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Caterpillar Inc Design Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Updated 5 Apr 2024

Caterpillar Inc Design Engineer Interview Experiences

7 interviews found

Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
Less than 2 weeks
Result
Not Selected

I applied via Campus Placement and was interviewed in Sep 2023. There were 4 interview rounds.

Round 1 - Resume Shortlist 
Pro Tip by AmbitionBox:
Do not use an unprofessional email address such as cool_boy@email.com. It shows a lack of professionalism by the candidate.
View all Resume tips
Round 2 - Aptitude Test 

The test will be quite easy. They asked question about LCM&HCF,Train and pipe problems which is very important.

Round 3 - Group Discussion 

The topic is about EV and their evolutions in India.

Round 4 - Technical 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. Question asked was based on the project and the area of intrest given in resume. Basic question like thin cylinder,stress strain graph ect are also asked.
Interview experience
3
Average
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
4-6 weeks
Result
Selected Selected

I applied via Referral and was interviewed before Apr 2023. There was 1 interview round.

Round 1 - Technical 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Was there a chance of you working on FEA for a particular component and how you achieved the results
  • Q2. Explain the tool used Boundary conditions Degree of freedom Next higher level situation (assembly constraints)
  • Ans. 

    Boundary conditions, degree of freedom, and assembly constraints are tools used in design engineering to define and analyze the behavior of a system.

    • Boundary conditions are constraints that define the limits of a system's behavior or performance.

    • Degree of freedom refers to the number of independent parameters that can be varied without violating the constraints of the system.

    • Assembly constraints are the restrictions pl...

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Stick to basics for CAD and try to learn stress strain related problems

Design Engineer Interview Questions Asked at Other Companies

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Q2. what is the difference between lathe and milling machine?
Q3. What is design considerations to mske while designing a Part?
Q4. Which are the operations performed on sheet metal to increase the ... read more
Q5. WHAT IS GD&T IN MECHANICAL? DESCRIBLE ALL IN DETAILS .
Round 1 - Resume Shortlist 
Pro Tip by AmbitionBox:
Double-check your resume for any spelling mistakes. The recruiter may consider spelling mistakes as careless behavior or poor communication skills.
View all Resume tips
Round 2 - Aptitude Test 

Topics related to aptitude

Round 3 - Technical 

(1 Question)

  • Q1. Sfd and bmd, stress strain curve About IC engines

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - keep calm
stay focus
prepare for basics

Interview Questionnaire 

1 Question

  • Q1. How will you design a swimming diving board?
  • Ans. 

    To design a swimming diving board, I will consider the material, dimensions, weight capacity, and safety features.

    • Choose a durable and non-slip material like fiberglass or aluminum

    • Determine the appropriate length, width, and thickness based on the intended use and user demographics

    • Calculate the weight capacity and ensure it can support the maximum weight of a user

    • Incorporate safety features like a non-slip surface, rou...

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: I had a standard resume for this company as per our institute placement cell norms. I usually changed my “Areas of Interest” as per the company profile. For Caterpillar, I laid emphasis on all of my technical activities.

Round: Test
Experience: The written test was purely technical covering almost all the major topics of Mechanical Engineering course curriculum. The questions related to Fluid Mechanics were particularly difficult. The questions were all objective and the test was for a duration of 90 minutes.
Tips: For Caterpillar, one must have in-depth knowledge of almost all major topics of mechanical.
Duration: 90 minutes

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: The questions were totally technical. There were no HR questions even in the beginning. They asked me about my topic of interest and I replied as Solid Mechanics. They asked questions related to designing of stuff. For example one of the question that was asked from me was – How will you design a swimming diving board? It was a question on cantilever beam. The whole interview continued on this particular question. They kept on counter questioning and gave me additional situations as I proceeded and I had to incorporate them in my design process. They asked me to develop a static design and thereafter asked me to develop a dynamic design. Then they asked me for another subject of interest which I stated as vibration design. Then they asked me to do vibration analysis of the swimming board that I had designed earlier in the interview. They also asked me my favorite topic from class 10th and I replied as Mathematics. They asked me a simple question on it which I answered correctly.

College Name: IIT ROORKEE
Motivation: Most of the information regarding the company was obtained by attending the Pre-Placement Talk. The company is one of the pioneers in its field and hence it was sort of a dream company for students and we had researched about it by visiting its website and the Wikipedia Page.

Caterpillar Inc interview questions for designations

 Associate Design Engineer

 (1)

 Mechanical Engg. Design

 (3)

 NPD Engineer

 (2)

 CFD Analyst

 (1)

 Pget

 (1)

 Engineer

 (1)

 Associate Engineer

 (12)

 Software Engineer

 (7)

I applied via Campus Placement

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: basic intro, focussed mainly on projexts you have done and softwares u know.. and basic core questions

General Tips: prepare well
Skills:
Duration: 2
College Name: IIT Madras
Motivation: seniors good reviews

Design Engineer Interview Questions & Answers

user image Giridar Vishwanathan

posted on 12 Nov 2015

I applied via Campus Placement

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: Not very transparent and highly delayed.
Tips: Can indicate selection status immediately or within one day of announcement. One sentence describing reason for rejection or acceptance can be given.

Round: Test
Experience: N/A
Tips: N/A

General Tips: Please let us know in case of rejection or waiting list, we have to apply to other companies as well to secure an intern and a simple sentence on reason for rejection will be very helpful.
Skills: Python, Simulink, MATLAB
Duration: 1.5
College Name: IIT Madras
Motivation: Internationally reputed, Core mechanical company designing heavy machinery.

Design Engineer Jobs at Caterpillar Inc

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Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: I had mentioned my extra-curricular activities in my resume in a detailed and organised manner (all listed in a chronological order). Most of these were techno-managerial activities (organizational responsibilities in my tech fest). I had participated in an event called Robocon which added a new dimension to me resume. I had done a project and a couple of internships during my four years of study – I mentioned the details of these in my resume. Although the resume that we submitted was in a standard format as per the norms of our placement cell, I referred to a website of Princeton University to prepare my resume. It’s a very good website and hugely referred by students for preparing their resume. I also got some valuable insights from my seniors for building my resume. I laid stress on my achievements related to the technical field, because I wanted to land a job in my core field of study.

Round: Test
Experience: The first round was the written test. The paper consisted of questions from general aptitude, technical ability and verbal ability. The paper was slightly lengthy and required a bit more stress on speed while maintaining the accuracy. The verbal ability part was easy; if a person had prepared for CAT, then he would not have found the paper difficult. The difficulty level of general aptitude questions was at par with the verbal ability questions. The technical questions were however slightly more difficult as compared to the other two. To answer these questions required a fair amount of knowledge on topics like ‘General Mechanics’, ‘Fluid Mechanics’, ‘Machining’ and ‘Solid Mechanics’. Some questions from ‘Thermodynamics’ were also asked. The total duration of the test was 90 minutes and the number of questions was 60. The test only had objective questions.
Duration: 90 minutes
Total Questions: 60

Round: HR Interview
Experience: The next round was the personal interview round. I had my interview the very next morning. The very first question the interviewers asked was related to me as person – my schooling, my family background and my four years of college life. The interviewer then did a review of my resume and picked some points and then questioned me on that. He also asked me about my areas of interest. I told them that I had cultivated a lot of interest in ‘Machine Design’. I showed them some pictures of the Robocon event that I had participated in, which quite impressed them. I was then asked to design the chair that I was sitting on considering all the different design aspects. I designed the chair by doing the load analysis and by carrying out some other important tests. However one important aspect that I did not account for was the safety of the design, which I realized after the interview. Another mistake that I think I committed was that I did not use the technical terms related to designing. I felt they were looking out for those important technical terms. I was then asked that if I had a choice of using wood, steel and plastic which of those materials would I use to make the chair. I basically had to give the preference order. I replied stating that plastic would be my first choice since it is cheap and most people can afford it, then steel because the fabrication process was less tedious in case of steel and placed wood last. They then cross questioned me that if I considered wood to be least preferred material for designing the chair, then why furniture is being manufactured from wood. I could not give them a suitable answer.

College Name: IIT ROORKEE

Interview questions from similar companies

Interview experience
5
Excellent
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
Less than 2 weeks
Result
Selected Selected

I applied via Referral and was interviewed in Jul 2023. There were 2 interview rounds.

Round 1 - Resume Shortlist 
Pro Tip by AmbitionBox:
Don’t add your photo or details such as gender, age, and address in your resume. These details do not add any value.
View all Resume tips
Round 2 - Technical 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Introduce Yourself Questions Based on projects mentioned in resume Have you done benchmarking
  • Q2. Prepare your resume well.

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Always prepare your resume well when applying as an Experience candidate

I applied via Campus Placement

Interview Questionnaire 

7 Questions

  • Q1. Tell me about yourself ??
  • Ans. 

    I am a design engineer with experience in creating innovative solutions for complex problems.

    • I have a degree in mechanical engineering

    • I have worked on projects ranging from consumer products to industrial machinery

    • I am skilled in CAD software such as SolidWorks and AutoCAD

    • I have experience in prototyping and testing designs

    • I am a creative problem solver and enjoy collaborating with others to find solutions

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Would you go for higher studies??
  • Ans. 

    Yes, I am open to pursuing higher studies.

    • I believe in continuous learning and upgrading my skills.

    • Higher studies will provide me with a deeper understanding of my field.

    • It will also open up new opportunities for career growth.

    • For example, I may consider pursuing a master's degree in mechanical engineering.

    • I am willing to balance work and studies to achieve my goals.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. Why aren't you doing MBA??
  • Ans. 

    I believe that pursuing an MBA is not necessary for my career goals and personal growth.

    • I have already gained sufficient knowledge and skills through my education and work experience.

    • I prefer to focus on developing my technical expertise in design engineering.

    • I am open to pursuing other forms of education or training that align with my interests and goals.

    • An MBA may not necessarily guarantee career success or advanceme...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. What "are" your favourite subjects??
  • Ans. 

    My favourite subjects are mathematics, physics, and computer science.

    • Mathematics: I enjoy solving complex problems and finding patterns.

    • Physics: I am fascinated by the laws of nature and how they govern the universe.

    • Computer Science: I love programming and creating new software solutions.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q5. Basic questions from all subjects??
  • Q6. Questions from internship areas??
  • Q7. Questions from engineering drawing??

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Resume and marks basis
Experience: Your resume should be such, that it should reflect all your qualities.
Tips: You should be very good in academics ,like in top 10 in your branch.

Round: Test
Experience: Questions are good and they especially focus on hydraulics as well as manufacturing processes as all machines are based on hydraulics.
Tips: Basics of hydraulics and manufacturing processes should be crystal clear.
Duration: 120 minutes
Total Questions: 80

Round: Group Discussion
Experience: You should try to start or conclude the GD.
Duration: 15 minutes

Round: HR Interview
Experience: HR people are nice , they check your communication skill as well as your point of view.
They basically take a psychometric test.
Tips: You should stick to your answers.

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: Its very rigorous process, of more than 45 minutes where they test everything, your knowledge, practical approach, mental strength and stress bearing capability.

General Tips: Be regular and attentive in your class , try to get good marks by gaining knowledge not just by completing the courses
Skills:
College Name: BIT Mesra
Motivation: 1. Very good salary
2. Market leader in India
3.
Interview experience
3
Average
Difficulty level
-
Process Duration
-
Result
-
Round 1 - Technical 

(5 Questions)

  • Q1. What means the General tolerances
  • Ans. 

    General tolerances refer to the acceptable range of variation in dimensions or properties of a part or product.

    • General tolerances are typically specified in engineering drawings to ensure parts fit and function properly.

    • They are usually expressed as a range of acceptable values, such as +/- 0.1mm.

    • Tolerances can vary depending on the specific requirements of the part or product.

    • Examples of general tolerances include dim...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. What is the material for wheel, Pin
  • Ans. 

    The material for wheel is typically rubber or plastic, while the material for pin is usually metal such as steel or aluminum.

    • Wheel material is commonly rubber or plastic for flexibility and durability

    • Pin material is usually metal like steel or aluminum for strength and stability

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. What are the grades of Hardwares like Screw, nut washer
  • Ans. 

    Hardware grades are typically classified based on material composition, strength, and corrosion resistance.

    • Hardware grades are often denoted by a combination of letters and numbers, such as Grade 8.8 or Grade 316.

    • Higher grade numbers generally indicate a higher tensile strength or corrosion resistance.

    • Common grades for screws include Grade 2, Grade 5, and Grade 8, with Grade 8 being the strongest.

    • For nuts and washers, ...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. How to calculate motor power
  • Ans. 

    Motor power can be calculated using the formula: Power (W) = Torque (Nm) x Speed (RPM) / 9.548

    • Calculate the torque required for the application

    • Determine the speed at which the motor will operate

    • Use the formula Power (W) = Torque (Nm) x Speed (RPM) / 9.548 to calculate motor power

  • Answered by AI
  • Q5. How welds are considered
  • Ans. 

    Welds are critical in design engineering for joining metal components together.

    • Welds must be strong enough to withstand the intended load and stress.

    • Proper welding techniques and materials must be used to ensure the integrity of the weld.

    • Inspections and testing should be conducted to verify the quality of the weld.

    • Consideration should be given to factors such as joint design, welding process, and material compatibility...

  • Answered by AI

Skills evaluated in this interview

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Caterpillar Inc Interview FAQs

How many rounds are there in Caterpillar Inc Design Engineer interview?
Caterpillar Inc interview process usually has 2-3 rounds. The most common rounds in the Caterpillar Inc interview process are Technical, Resume Shortlist and Aptitude Test.
How to prepare for Caterpillar Inc Design Engineer interview?
Go through your CV in detail and study all the technologies mentioned in your CV. Prepare at least two technologies or languages in depth if you are appearing for a technical interview at Caterpillar Inc. The most common topics and skills that interviewers at Caterpillar Inc expect are Product Design, Prototype, Simulation, Cost Reduction and Design Development.
What are the top questions asked in Caterpillar Inc Design Engineer interview?

Some of the top questions asked at the Caterpillar Inc Design Engineer interview -

  1. How will you design a swimming diving boa...read more
  2. Explain the tool used Boundary conditions Degree of freedom Next higher level...read more
  3. Question asked was based on the project and the area of intrest given in resu...read more

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Caterpillar Inc Design Engineer Interview Process

based on 2 interviews

1 Interview rounds

  • Technical Round
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₹4.7 L/yr - ₹19.6 L/yr
134% more than the average Design Engineer Salary in India
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