Manufacturing 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.

Hear about the Caterpillar Experience for yourself

Role Definition

Large Engines and Drivetrain Operations has an opening for a Manufacturing Engineer within the Drivetrain Assembly Planning team located in East Peoria, Illinois. This role is a critical function within the KK Assembly Planning team, focused on delivering technical process support to achieve assembly velocity, quality, and validation requirements across drivetrain products.

The Manufacturing Engineer will serve as a technical subject matter expert (SME) responsible for the design, development, and implementation of manufacturing processes and systems supporting the assembly of Transmissions, Torque Converters, Final Drives, and Axles. The role includes direct engagement with cross-functional partners including Safety, Product Engineering, Operations, Logistics, Supply Chain, Business Resources, and Product Change Control.

In this role, you will work independently and within a high-performing team to maintain, validate, and continuously improve manufacturing systems, with a strong emphasis on in-process validation (IPV), advanced process controls, and digital manufacturing integration.

What you will do

* Lead manufacturing engineering support for process planning, In-Process Validation (IPV) development, execution, and sustainment, including capital project management and equipment acquisitions supporting assembly processes

* Provide technical leadership in the integration and sustainment of PLC-controlled equipment and vision inspection systems, ensuring robust process control, data capture, and validation compliance

* Develop and implement state-of-the-art process controls and validation strategies aligned to quality certification and traceability requirements

* Support and optimize equipment and system integration, including troubleshooting and continuous improvement of automated assembly systems

* Engage in creative problem solving to address safety, capacity, and quality concerns using structured problem-solving and root cause analysis methodologies

* Drive continuous improvement initiatives aligned to IPV effectiveness, process capability, and error-proofing strategies

* Collaborate with internal and external suppliers to deliver cost-effective, reliable, and validated manufacturing systems

* Lead and support NPI program execution, ensuring manufacturing readiness, validation completeness, and alignment to program milestones

* Serve as a SME bridging manufacturing processes, controls systems, and quality validation requirements, ensuring systems meet customer and enterprise standards

Degree Requirement

* Bachelor's degree (Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial concentration) or equivalent experience desired.

Skills you must have

* Collaborative Automation:
Knowledge of techniques and processes of collaborative automation; ability to develop and automate manufacturing processes.

* 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.

* Engineering - Manufacturing:
Knowledge of processes, techniques and methods of engineering in a manufacturing environment; ability to design and implement materials, structures, machines,

devices, systems and processes that safely realize a desired objective or invention.

* Lean Manufacturing:
Knowledge of the philosophy, principles and implementation approaches of lean manufacturing; ability to integrate and implement lean manufacturing philosophy into existing production and management processes.

* Manufacturing Processes:
Knowledge…