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.
The Supplier Development Engineer assesses supplier quality and ensures that supplier‑provided products are free from defects and compliant with manufacturing specifications and applicable standards. In this role, you work closely with suppliers to develop and implement inspection, testing, and evaluation mechanisms that improve quality performance and reduce defects across components and assemblies.
Why this role is exciting:
This role offers the opportunity to drive meaningful improvement initiatives with visible business impact. You will identify improvement opportunities, partner with key suppliers, and manage end‑to‑end quality processes.
In addition to traditional Quality focused approach you will also identify OPACC improvement opportunities working with Product groups. With strong cross‑functional collaboration across Product, Procurement, Operations, and Service teams, you’ll play a critical role in turning improvement ideas into sustainable results that directly influence cost, quality, and operational performance. This enhanced role provides a solid foundation for future career growth.
What you will do:
Ensure the quality of supplied components by conducting tests and assessments on incoming materials to identify quality issues.
Develop supplier inspection, testing, and evaluation mechanisms.
Monitor supplier defect rates, analyze trends, and generate quality performance reports.
Guide suppliers to reduce defect rates and address potential quality risks.
Research and assess potential vendors, including evaluation of manufacturing environments, practices, and procedures.
Conduct supplier quality audits to ensure compliance with organizational and applicable standards.
Support supplier performance improvement through process enhancements, process controls, and quality assurance planning.
Identify and execute OPACC improvement ideas
What skills you will have:
Supplier Management – Manufacturing: Manages key supplier relationships and end‑to‑end processes to execute improvement initiatives and resolve performance issues.
Problem Solving: Applies structured problem‑solving approaches to identify supplier quality, cost, or process gaps and supports timely, well‑informed improvement decisions.
Process Improvement: Identifies and executes supplier and end‑to‑end process improvement opportunities using continuous improvement principles and sustainable controls.
Effective Communications: Clearly communicates project status and supplier performance insights across cross‑functional teams, aligning expectations, timelines, and outcomes through clear documentation, meetings, and presentations.
Quality Orientation: Uses quality data and supplier performance metrics identify root causes and apply learnings to prevent recurrence across components and assemblies.
Production Part Approval Process (PPAP): Applies extensive PPAP expertise to ensure supplier readiness, validate documentation, and resolve gaps impacting quality, cost, or delivery for components and assemblies.
Manufacturing Standards, Procedures & Policies: Applies manufacturing standards and policies, ensuring compliant execution while identifying opportunities to improve procedures.
Supplier Evaluations & Certification: Supports supplier evaluation and certification activities by utilizing industry/ Caterpillar standards.
Top candidates will have:
Experience of improving supplier Quality performance
Experience using cost improvement approaches and familiarity with the necessary systems and tools
Experience coordinating work across multiple functional teams and suppliers
Additional information:
The location for this position is Mossville, IL.
Relocation assistance is not available for this position.
This position will require up to 40% travel to Caterpillar and supplier facilities
Visa sponsorship, international assignments, and payroll transfers are not available for this role.
Summary Pay Range:
$97,530.00 - $146,290.00
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.Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Posting Dates:
April 20, 2026 - April 26, 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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