Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Description

Career Area:

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.

Caterpillar is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead manufacturing engineering, operational excellence, quality management, and the next evolution of product testing and validation at the Tucson Proving Ground.

In this role, you will drive the development and execution of manufacturing processes, facility readiness, continuous improvement initiatives, and operational excellence strategies that enable safe, efficient, and reliable testing operations. You will deliver trusted, world-class test data that drives confident engineering decisions, accelerates advanced technologies, sustains the ISO lab accreditation, and improves safety and productivity for our customers.

As a key leader across Engineering, Operations, and Safety, you will set the standard for data integrity, process discipline, and continuous improvement, helping shape the future of Caterpillar product development. Through strong manufacturing engineering leadership, you will optimize processes, develop organizational capability, and ensure the systems, infrastructure, and teams are positioned to support Caterpillar's evolving validation and testing needs.

What You Will Do:

Manufacturing Engineering & Operational Excellence

• Lead the development and continuous improvement of manufacturing and operational processes that support product testing, validation, and technical services activities.

• Drive process optimization initiatives focused on safety, quality, efficiency, throughput, and cost reduction.

• Partner with Operations and Engineering teams to improve workflow design, resource utilization, and execution effectiveness.

• Develop and implement standard work, process controls, and operating procedures to improve consistency and performance.

• Support facility planning, equipment readiness, infrastructure improvements, and capital projects that enhance site capabilities.

• Identify and implement new technologies, tooling and fixturing opportunities, and innovative solutions that improve operational effectiveness.

Leadership & Stakeholder Impact

• Serve as a key site leader supporting engineering validation, operational readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure business needs are met with a high level of responsiveness and professionalism.

• Collaborate across Engineering, Operations, Safety, IT, and Product Groups to deliver solutions that support strategic objectives.

• Influence decision-making through data-driven recommendations and effective stakeholder engagement.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Leadership

• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and Built-In Quality initiatives across site operations.

• Utilize data and performance metrics to identify improvement opportunities and eliminate waste.

• Facilitate root cause analysis and corrective action efforts to improve operational performance.

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and proactive problem solving.

• Drive initiatives that improve safety, quality, delivery, and overall customer value.

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Provide leadership and oversight for Quality Management Systems and compliance requirements.

• Support ISO 17025 accreditation activities, audit readiness, and regulatory compliance efforts.

• Partner with quality professionals to identify improvement opportunities and sustain effective corrective actions.

• Monitor key quality metrics and ensure processes support reliable and repeatable results.

• Establish and promote Built-In Quality principles across manufacturing engineering and operational activities.

Validation & Technical Support

• Support validation operations by ensuring equipment, processes, and facilities are capable of delivering reliable and repeatable results.

• Partner with engineering teams to improve process capability and testing effectiveness.

• Oversee initiatives related to calibration, instrumentation, contamination control, weld quality, torque control, and process integrity.

• Ensure operational systems enable safe and efficient data collection and reporting.

People & Financial Leadership

• Lead a multidisciplinary team supporting Manufacturing Engineering, Lean, Quality, Training, and Site IT functions.

• Develop team capabilities through coaching, mentoring, performance management, and succession planning.

• Foster an inclusive, collaborative culture focused on engagement and continuous learning.

• Manage operating and capital budgets while balancing safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

• Prioritize resources and initiatives to align with site and enterprise goals.

What Skills Will You Have:

Technical Excellence: Experience in manufacturing engineering, operations, engineering validation, technical services, or quality leadership. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, operational excellence, facility operations, process development, and engineering validation. Experience implementing process controls, workflow improvements, and operational best practices. Working knowledge of ISO-based Quality Management Systems (ISO 17025 preferred). Ability to interpret technical documentation and system-level interactions.

Problem Solving: Demonstrated use of RCCA, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement methodologies. Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess risk, identify process improvement opportunities, evaluate alternatives, and implement sustainable solutions.

Effective Communications: Strong communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders, build cross-functional partnerships, and translate technical information into actionable business outcomes.

Managing People: Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate technical teams while fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organization. Ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority.

Project Management: Track record of leading manufacturing, operational, facility, and process improvement initiatives while balancing multiple priorities and delivering measurable business results. Experience managing cross-functional projects that improve safety, quality, cost, and delivery performance.

Additional information:

Primary work location: Tucson Proving Ground – Green Valley, AZ, with a requirement to work on‑site full‑time at a Caterpillar facility.

Domestic relocation assistance is available.

This position may require up to 10% travel.

Visa sponsorship, international assignments, and payroll transfers are not available

Posting Date: 8/11/2026 – 8/25/2026

Summary Pay Range:

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:

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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