Quality Engineer

Caterpillar • Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico • 3d ago

Career Area:

Manufacturing

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.

Job Description:

The Aftertreatment Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) is responsible for ensuring supplier process capability, quality system robustness, and compliance for both existing and new Aftertreatment suppliers. This role emphasizes prevention over containment, partnering with suppliers early to validate manufacturing and quality controls, and executing structured supplier audits and development plans.

The SQE will collaborate closely with other Aftertreatment SQEs, Manufacturing Engineering, Design Engineering, Procurement, and Quality teams to ensure supplier processes are developed with the appropriate controls in place and that suppliers consistently meet safety, regulatory, quality, and delivery requirements throughout the product lifecycle.

Whatyouwill do:

•Own quality performance for assigned Aftertreatment suppliers, including, escape prevention, corrective action effectiveness, and risk mitigation.

•Lead structured problem‑solving with suppliers using standard methodologies (e.g., RCCA, 8D), ensuring root cause and systemic corrective actions are implemented and sustained.

•Drive a shift from reactive containment to preventive supplier quality planning, aligned with Aftertreatment quality risk and customer pain priorities

Skills you will have:

Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision. Level Working Knowledge: Accurately gauges the impact and cost of errors, omissions, and oversights. Utilizes specific approaches and tools for checking and cross-checking outputs. Processes limited amounts of detailed information with good accuracy.
Collaborating: Work as part of the Aftertreatment SQE community, collaborating with peer SQEs to align on standards, risk assessment approaches, and best practices. Interface with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations to support issue containment, supplier development, and continuous improvement initiatives. Support escalation of high‑severity or high‑risk supplier issues with clear data, risk assessment, and recommended actions.
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. Level Basic Understanding: Explains characteristics and steps in an effective decision-making process. Identifies issues and communicates with others when a decision needs to be made.
Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations. Level Working Knowledge: Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives.
Project Management: Lead supplier onboarding activities for new Aftertreatment suppliers, including quality system assessments, APQP readiness, PPAP execution, and launch support. Ensure new or changed supplier processes have appropriate controls in place (PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, capability evidence) prior to production approval. Partner with Engineering and Procurement to assess supplier readiness for NPI, volume ramps, and design or process changes.

BasicRequirements:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
Experience in supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or supplier development in a regulated or high‑complexity product environment.
Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and corrective action methodologies.
Experience conducting or supporting supplier audits and on‑site supplier engagement.
Strong problem‑solving, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
English Intermediate
Availability to travel

Top candidates willalsohave:

Experience with Aftertreatment, emissions‑related products, or similarly regulated components.
Experience supporting NPI launches and supplier onboarding.
Familiarity with global supplier networks and cross‑regional collaboration.
Demonstrated ability to influence suppliers and internal stakeholders without direct authority.
English Advanced

Additional Information