Career Area:
Procurement
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.
About EPD
Caterpillar's Electric Power Division (EPD) offers integrated solutions, parts, and services to meet the needs of our various commercial and industrial electric power customers. EPD supports a wide range of customer applications across the globe, including providing back-up power to hospitals, providing emergency power when natural disasters strike, and supporting critical infrastructure for data centers, municipalities, and more. With a rich history of more than 95 years in the electric power business, our team has world-class expertise and a proven ability to adapt to changing demands. We’re committed to providing sustainable and reliable solutions to our customers. Join our team to help build a better, more sustainable world for future generations!
Job Summary
Join a dynamic team as a Supplier Development Engineer, where you'll be the driving force behind supplier quality and manufacturing excellence. In this role, you’ll assess the quality of suppliers to ensure products are defect-free and meet all manufacturing specifications and legal standards. You’ll lead efforts to resolve quality issues, enforce accountability, and improve process stability through audits, corrective actions, and hands-on engagement.
What You Will Do
Serve as the primary point of contact between the business and dedicated suppliers.
Lead weekly supplier meetings to review and resolve quality defects, ensuring timely renewals and issue resolution.
Assign and approve PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) documentation for designated suppliers.
Conduct random audits of supplier manufacturing processes to ensure compliance and process stability.
Manage and track daily quality defects from suppliers, analyzing frequency and trends to drive improvements.
Issue and manage corrective action requests (CARs), ensuring suppliers provide robust RCCA (Root Cause and Corrective Action) responses and sign off on agreed changes.
Expedite resolution of supplier issues to meet production and quality expectations.
Lead “sort and contain” activities to isolate non-conforming materials and prevent defective parts from entering production.
Support suppliers in improving performance through process enhancements, quality assurance plans, and implementation of process controls.
Research and assess potential vendors, including audits of their manufacturing environments and practices.
Generate and maintain reports on supplier quality metrics, including defect rates and improvement opportunities.
Degree Requirement
What You Will Have
Effective Communications: Working knowledge and understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.
Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.
Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.
Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.
Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.
Production Part Approval Process (PPAP): Extensive experience and knowledge of Production Part Approval Processes (PPAP) elements, submissions, and objectives; ability to determine whether a supplier can manufacture products that meet the quality requirements and standards of their customers consistently.
Develops testing and validation procedures to test the quality of manufactured parts/products so that it meets desired customer standards.
Identifies and resolves key issues with PPAP implementation and submissions.
Monitors the execution of PPAP steps within a facility and ensures their compliance with industry standards and internal guidelines.
Oversees PPAP implementation; establishes a high trust relationship between stakeholders.
Reviews the complex documentation and elements required during the PPAP submission process.
Trains others on the execution of PPAP to get the required approvals and teaches them about the different PPAP submission levels.
Manufacturing Standards, Procedures and Policies: Working knowledge of organizational standards, procedures and policies in manufacturing activities; ability to plan, guide, and monitor manufacturing processes for compliance.
Contributes to the development and implementation of specific manufacturing procedures.
Investigates the need to refer potential exceptions upward for review and approval.
Explains the rationale for procedures and standards in own area of responsibility.
Participates in the implementation of manufacturing standards and procedures to one's own function.
Provides feedback for improvement of procedures.
Supplier Evaluations and Certification: Working knowledge of supplier evaluations and certification; ability to identify the methods, tools and documentation for evaluating, selecting and certifying vendors, suppliers and partners.
Documents and pursues results of reference calls or other sources for a specific supplier.
Participates in selecting and certifying a specific supplier and/or product.
Assists with the steps and procedures for supplier certification.
Researches several types of sources of information for a supplier's or a product's reputation.
Assesses a product or service using pre-defined evaluation criteria.
Additional Requirements
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and ability to assess process stability and capability.
Familiarity with “sort and contain” methods for managing non-conforming materials.
Proven ability to enforce supplier accountability and drive corrective actions.
Excellent communication and relationship management skills to serve as the liaison between suppliers and internal teams.
Process-oriented mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence.
What Will Put You Ahead
Experience with PPAP documentation and approval processes.
Skilled in conducting supplier audits and evaluating compliance with internal and external standards.
Ability to interpret and validate RCCA responses and ensure effective implementation of corrective actions.
Physical Requirements:
The ability to occasionally lift parts up to 25 lbs. individually or up to 70 lbs. with a team lift
The ability to bend, reach, and squat while performing tasks
The ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) for assigned tasks
The ability to work in an environment with frequently changing temperatures
The ability to stand and/or sit for extended periods while performing tasks
We are committed to ensuring a supportive and accommodating work environment for all employees. Please advise of any reasonable accommodation requests to facilitate your ability to perform the job’s essential functions.
Additional Information:
This position requires the candidate to work a 5-day-a-week schedule in the office.
Travel up to 10% is possible
Relocation is NOT available for this position
Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position
This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job.
At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of “essential job functions” as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
About Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For 100 years, we have been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.
Please ensure you frequently check the e-mail account you provided on your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method in our recruiting process.
Summary Pay Range:
$95,640.00 - $143,520.00
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
Posting Dates:
November 13, 2025 - November 23, 2025
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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