Performance Test Engineer Jobs in Indiana

Job Summary:

We are looking for a talented Current Product Powertrain - System Performance Technical Specialist for our location in Columbus, IN. This role sits within the System Performance, Aftertreatment, Controls, and Emissions (SPACE) team, where you will contribute to ongoing product improvements for EBU platforms in North America using a disciplined 7-step problem solving approach. In this position, you will play a critical role in identifying, analyzing, and resolving complex system-level issues that impact engine and aftertreatment performance, emissions compliance, and overall product robustness.

In this role, you will lead PPS projects and technical investigations across areas such as on-board diagnostics (OBD), engine and aftertreatment performance, emissions, and controls, applying strong system-level thinking and data analysis to identify assignable causes and implement Step 3 improvements where feasible. You will plan, execute, and direct testing, simulations, and field data analysis, while also managing project schedules to ensure timely delivery of results. This position also emphasizes mentorship and collaboration, as you will provide coaching and technical guidance to other engineers on the team. Successful candidates bring strong critical thinking, analytical, project leadership, and communication skills, along with hands-on experience with engine systems and delivery of relevant subsystems or features. Prior experience in calibration, controls, or OBD projects is strongly desired, as is proficiency with Matlab and Simulink, and familiarity with simulation tools such as CROSS, GT-Suite, or similar. An interest or experience in structured problem-solving methodologies is essential, as this role requires both technical depth and a methodical, solution-oriented mindset.

In this role, you will make an impact in the following ways:

• Stakeholder Collaboration & Influence: Obtains input and negotiates with stakeholders: collaborates with cross-functional engineers, project leaders, product teams, and suppliers to provide insights, recommendations, and guidance that support project decisions and further technical analysis.
• Project-Level Technical Decision Making: Makes independent technical decisions: drives short-term project activities—including analysis, testing, and communication—that directly influence project progression at a level beyond senior or lead engineers.
• Process Application & Continuous Improvement: Applies and enhances engineering processes: utilizes and improves methodologies such as PPP, PPT, VPI/VPC, ESW, and FEP while leveraging advanced thermal and fluid-science tools (e.g., GT-Power, Fluent, Converge, Concerto, CyberApps, CDAT, Calterm, ECM tools) to enable high-quality decision making.
• Leadership of Complex Workscopes: Provides independent leadership: takes ownership of smaller business-impact projects or complex system/component work with higher ambiguity, ensuring full accountability to the project team.
• Execution of Work Systems & Technology Development: Delivers consistent, high-quality execution: independently carries out established and emerging engineering work processes while continuing to expand product and technology expertise.
• Process & System Improvement Leadership: Leads improvements across functional disciplines: champions the development and refinement of work processes and systems within the business unit to strengthen engineering execution.
• Coordination & Mentorship: Guides and supports team members: coordinates technician and student-employee tasks and contributes to knowledge transfer by coaching less-experienced engineers through direct or indirect leadership.
• Technical Expertise & Influence: Acts as a recognized specialist: operates as an expert in a specific discipline or product area, shaping technical direction within project teams while developing deeper competency in key technical areas.

To be successful in this role you will need the following:

• Combustion & Emissions Science: Applies deep understanding of combustion processes, fuel-oxidizer reactions, pollutant formation, and system modeling to accurately interpret and predict system behavior and guide sound technical decisions.
• Fluid Dynamics, Heat Transfer & Thermal Systems: Leverages strong analytical and intuitive knowledge of fluid flow and heat transfer principles—along with modeling and experimental tools—to evaluate system performance and resolve key thermal and fluid-related challenges.
• Thermodynamics & Energy Conversion Systems: Uses expertise in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and energy conversion to assess and optimize the performance of systems such as internal combustion engines, fuel cells, batteries, and gas turbines with a data-driven approach.
• Product Failure Mode Avoidance & Problem Solving: Anticipates and mitigates potential failure modes by analyzing system interactions, identifying root causes, and implementing durable, customer-focused solutions that improve product reliability and prevent recurrence.
• Systems Engineering & Systems Thinking: Translates stakeholder needs into clear, verifiable system requirements; evaluates system interactions and lifecycle impacts; and applies structured systems-thinking methods to guide architecture decisions and maintain alignment across the project.
• Modeling, Simulation & Functional Analysis: Utilizes computational tools and analytical methods to predict system or component capability, influence design choices, and ensure product performance aligns with requirements at all integration levels.
• Effective Communication & Collaboration: Clearly communicates technical information across diverse audiences and builds strong working relationships that support effective decision-making, cross-functional alignment, and project success.
• Decision Quality & Results Orientation: Demonstrates strong judgment in complex or time-sensitive situations and consistently drives projects forward while navigating challenges with focus and resilience.

Education, Licenses, Certifications:

• College, university, or equivalent Bachelor's degree in Engineering or appropriate STEM field is required.
• Post-graduate (Master's) degree relevant to this discipline area may be required for select roles.
• This position may require licensing for compliance with export controls or sanctions regulations.

Experience:

• Prior Senior or Lead Engineer equivalent work experience in a relevant discipline area is required with a demonstrated track record of technical problem solving and quality decision making.
• Knowledge of MS Office tools is preferred.

This position is in the System Performance, Aftertreatment, Controls, and Emissions (SPACE) team, which delivers product improvements for EBU platforms in North America, using the 7-step problem solving approach.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead PPS projects and investigations in the areas of on-board diagnostics (OBD), engine or aftertreatment performance, emissions, controls.
• Apply system thinking and data analysis to identify and resolve the assignable cause for the product issue. Implement step 3 improvements where feasible.
• Plan and execute/direct testing, simulations, and field data analysis.
• Manage project schedule.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to other engineers on the team.

Requirements

Successful candidates will possess:

• Strong critical thinking, analysis, project leadership and communication skills.
• Working knowledge of engine systems with experience in delivering relevant subsystems/features. Prior experience in calibration, controls or on-board diagnostics projects is strongly desired.
• Experience with Matlab and Simulink. Experience with simulation tools such as CROSS, GT-Suite, etc is desired.
• Experience or interest in applying structured problem-solving approaches to projects.

Job Engineering

Organization Cummins Inc.

Role Category On-site with Flexibility

Job Type Exempt - Experienced

ReqID 2427928

Relocation Package No

100% On-Site No

At Cummins, we are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer dedicated to diversity in the workplace. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, gender, color, disability, national origin, age, religion, union affiliation, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship, gender identity and/or expression, or other status protected by law. Cummins validates the right to work using E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. Visit http://EEOC.gov to know your rights on workplace discrimination.