Assistant General Counsel – Lead Counsel

Career Area:

Legal and Compliance

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

This is Caterpillar

Law, Security & Public Policy has an opening for the Assistant General Counsel – Lead Counsel of Caterpillar’s Integrated Drivetrain Energy Solutions (IDES) division.

This Lead Counsel will work with IDES leadership and staff and collaborate with relevant functional and regional legal teams to advise on cutting-edge legal issues shaping energy, electrification, and global technology strategy for the division. The Lead Counsel will deliver or coordinate the delivery of legal support for a broad range of issues and business activities, including the deployment of innovative energy technology, battery, and alternative fuel solutions, charging infrastructure and related services globally to help our customers solve their toughest challenges. The role provides management, leadership, and legal expertise on significant legal issues, conducting analysis and providing counsel to the business to enable execution of its strategy. The position reports to the Deputy General Counsel for Power & Energy.

What You Will Do:

• The Lead Counsel oversees a broad portfolio of complex legal matters across the IDES business, including transactions, strategic alliances, compliance, litigation, labor and employment, intellectual property, venture capital and other critical areas relevant to innovative energy technology and drivetrains, ensuring effective risk management and business enablement
• The Lead Counsel drives execution of complex legal priorities across the Division, providing leadership through influence and collaboration with business, legal, and functional stakeholders worldwide. The role leads cross-functional and project-based teams focused on key legal initiatives, operational excellence, and process improvements to deliver high-quality, scalable legal support.
• The Lead Counsel serves as a trusted advisor to senior business and legal leadership, assessing legal risk, navigating highly complex and ambiguous issues, and providing strategic counsel and recommendations to the Deputy General Counsel and General Counsel on high-impact matters.
• The Lead Counsel shapes and advances the legal strategy for the Division, influencing decision-making and aligning legal priorities with business objectives. This role drives strategic initiatives, builds organizational capability, and advances transformation in the delivery of legal services.

What You Have:

• Risk Management: Knowledge of processes, tools and techniques for assessing and controlling an organization's exposure to risks of various kinds; ability to apply knowledge of risk management appropriately to diverse situations
• Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment
• Negotiating: Knowledge of successful negotiation concepts and techniques; ability to negotiate successfully across the organization and with external vendors and clients in a constructive and collaborative manner
• Business Acumen: Knowledge of the Enterprise strategy and willingness to work at all levels of the IDES and Caterpillar organization to support business results
• Organizational Leadership: Knowledge of leadership concepts and ability to use strategies and skills to enlist others in setting, embracing and achieving objectives
• Legal Function: Knowledge of the major responsibilities, accountabilities, and organization of the legal function or department; ability to provide legal consulting, advice and assistance
• Strategic Partnerships: Knowledge of partnership development, stakeholder alignment, and collaborative business models; ability to advise on strategic relationships that support corporate growth initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, venture investments, joint ventures, and other transformational business opportunities.

Degree and Experience Requirements:

• J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials
• Eligible to practice as in-house counsel in Texas
• Must have considerable experience providing counsel for a global business and solid knowledge of Caterpillar's worldwide operations, policies, objectives, and history; 12+ years of progressively responsible job-related experience is typically required

Top Candidates Will Also Have:

• Experience with electric and alternative fuel systems, energy storage, and energy as a service transactions
• Knowledge of energy regulations
• Experience with mergers, acquisitions, and venture investment transactions
• Proven customer relationship and interpersonal skills  
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and communications skills
• The ability to counsel, and influence senior executives

Additional Info:

• The primary location for this position is Irving, TX
• International and Domestic travel up to 15%
• Relocation assistance is available for those who qualify
• Sponsorship is not available
• This position is eligible for stock or other equity grants pursuant to Caterpillar’s long-term incentive plan

About Caterpillar

For more than a century, Caterpillar has helped build a better, more sustainable world. With 2025 sales and revenues of $67.6 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is shaping the future as the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. Backed by one of the largest independent global dealer networks and financing services through Cat Financial, the company’s primary business segments: Power & Energy, Construction Industries and Resource Industries are solving customers’ toughest challenges through commercial excellence and advanced technology, driven by a highly skilled, dedicated global team.

Final details:

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.

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Summary Pay Range:

$227,760.00 - $341,640.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. 

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

• 401(k) savings plans*

• Health Savings Account (HSA)*

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

• Health Lifestyle Programs*

• Employee Assistance Program*

• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

• Career Development*

• Incentive bonus*

• Disability benefits

• Life Insurance

• Parental leave

• Adoption benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

This position requires working onsite five days a week.Relocation is available for this position.Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates:

September 4, 2026 - September 14, 2026

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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