Quality Engineer

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.

At Caterpillar’s East Peoria facility, we manufacture Track Type Tractors for Mining and Construction customers. In this role as a Product Quality Engineer, you will report to the Quality Manager and will be primarily responsible for Product Quality plan (Proactive and Reactive) & deliver Defect Free machines to our customers. As a member of the quality team, you will need to have a growth mindset, promote continuous improvement, and help build a defect-free culture.

What you will do:

• Monitor and improve safety on the shop floor; eliminate any unsafe operations and ensure a safe and clean production environment. 
• Suggest changes in working conditions and use of equipment to increase efficiency.  Work to improve processes and reduce costs by eliminating non-value added activities.
• Lead initiatives such as Build in Quality, 5S, Lean Manufacturing, 6 Sigma that are focused on continuous improvement within the business.
• Lead cross-functional teams to contain product quality issues and drive root cause corrective action to ensure the defect does not happen again.
• Main focus is on 0/2 Month in Service, using information to identify Root Cause, Containments, and lead team to provide corrective actions
• Developing quality assurance strategies, processes, guidelines and control plans which assure quality and reliability of manufactured products. 
• Driving change based on data; reviewing reports to review with quality assurance, production, management, and engineering personnel to solve quality issues
• Managing process to achieve compliance for internal quality audits and coordinate external on-site audits; analyzing all product development and manufacturing procedures to identify deviations from quality standards and recommend and implement corrective actions.
• Communicating adherence to client requirements, product or service specifications, and ensures that their expectations are met to achieve high customer satisfaction rates

Top Candidates will also have:

• Demonstrated leadership abilities- Zero Injury & Stop-to-Fix mindset
• Knowledge of Lean, Build In Quality methodology
• Basic blueprint reading skills and understanding of GD&T
• General understanding of Fabrications, Machining, Paint, and Assembly functions.
• Knowledge of Caterpillar manufacturing systems such as AQE, ETQ, MES, REDI, SAP, etc.
• Understanding of APQP principles.
• Good communication, interpersonal, teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of employees and customers and promote inclusiveness.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to analyze data and create reports using Tableau, PowerBl, etc
• ASQ Certifications – CQE or similar

Degree Requirement
Bachelor’s Degree preferred in a Manufacturing or Engineering discipline or equivalent experience

What Skills You Will Have:

Planning: Tactical, Strategic:
• Anticipates and adapts to plan changes.
• Under guidance, develops tactical plan for own direct responsibility.

Quality Management:
• Interprets results of quantitative and statistical tools and explains results to others.
• Develops expertise in quality assurance tools, techniques, and standards.
• Develops programs for motivating employees to meet or exceed quality goals.

Collaborating:
• Demonstrates experience participating in productive collaborative processes.
• Under guidance, initiates collaborative meetings.
• Helps solve business problems and meet business goals through collaborative processes.

Influencing:
• Develops basic persuasive arguments.
• Uses active listening skills and probing techniques to surface opportunities to influence.
• Identifies who the decision makers are and how they receive information.
• Regularly presents ideas or suggestions to associates in persuasive terms.

Problem Solving:
• Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives.
• Examines a specific problem and understands the perspective of each involved stakeholder.
• Develops alternative techniques for assessing accuracy and relevance of information.
• Helps to analyze risks and benefits of alternative approaches and obtain decision on resolution.
• Uses fact-finding techniques and diagnostic tools to identify problems.

Quality Risk Management:
• Documents the key steps of a unit-specific risk management process and associated procedures.
• Participates in a crisis management team to address quality issues.
• Understands overall business objectives to effectively mitigate risks associated with quality.

Lean Manufacturing:
• Cites examples of benefits and risks associated with implementing lean principles.
• Identifies key lean principles and highlights of the lean manufacturing process.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA):
• Explains the rationale for finding and resolving the real cause of a problem rather than simply continuing to deal with the symptoms.
• Describes the basic steps in an approach to root cause analysis (RCA).
• Gives examples of problems that were resolved through root cause analysis.

Additional Information:

The primary location for this position is East Peoria, IL

Domestic relocation assistance is available

This position may require 5% travel

Sponsorship is not available

What you will get:

Our goal at Caterpillar is for you to have a rewarding career. Our teams are critical to the success of our customers who build a better world.

Here you earn more than just wage, because we value your performance, we offer a total rewards package that provides:

• Competitive Base Salary
• Annual incentive bonus plan*
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holiday, Volunteer, Etc.)
• 401k savings plan
• Health savings account (HSA)
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Life Insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Healthy Lifestyle Programs
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Voluntary Benefits (Ex. Accident, Identity Theft Protection)

*Subject to annual eligibility and incentive plan guidelines.

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.

For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media

Summary Pay Range:

$108,360.00 - $162,480.00

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:

Annual incentive bonus plan*

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holiday, Volunteer, Etc.)

401k savings plan

Health savings account (HSA)

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)

Disability benefits

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Healthy Lifestyle Programs

Employee Assistance Programs

Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts

Tuition Reimbursement

Career Development

*Subject to annual eligibility and incentive plan guidelines .

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.

Posting Dates:

December 17, 2024 - January 1, 2025

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

EEO/AA Employer.  All qualified individuals - Including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities - are encouraged to apply.

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community .