Supplier Development Engineer

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.

As a Supplier Development Engineer supporting Caterpillar's RISM Steel Components supply base
, you will play a critical role in ensuring supplier quality, manufacturing excellence, and supply chain reliability for forged, cast, and machine bar components. This position is responsible for assessing supplier quality systems, evaluating manufacturing processes, and ensuring all supplied products meet quality standards, manufacturing specifications, and regulatory requirements. Working closely with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders, you will drive defect reduction, improve supplier performance, support Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) activities, and strengthen quality management systems across strategic suppliers.

The successful candidate will bring experience in supplier quality, manufacturing processes, continuous improvement, and component manufacturing environments such as steel forgings, castings, and machine bar. This role offers the opportunity to influence supplier quality performance while supporting products that help build the world's infrastructure, energy, and transportation systems.

• Assess supplier quality and ensure forged, cast, and machine bar components meet Caterpillar manufacturing specifications, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Conduct supplier assessments, product evaluations, manufacturing reviews, and quality audits to identify risks and opportunities for improvement.

• Develop and maintain supplier inspection, testing, and evaluation processes to improve product quality and supplier performance.

• Monitor supplier quality metrics, defect trends, and performance indicators while generating reports that support quality improvement initiatives.

• Partner with suppliers to reduce defect rates through process improvements, corrective actions, manufacturing controls, and quality assurance planning.

• Evaluate supplier manufacturing environments, capabilities, procedures, and quality systems to ensure alignment with organizational requirements.

• Conduct supplier quality control audits and support supplier compliance with organizational, customer, and industry standards.

• Support Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) activities and supplier readiness efforts to ensure long‑term manufacturing capability and quality performance.

• Collaborate with engineering, procurement, manufacturing, and supplier teams to resolve supplier quality issues and implement sustainable solutions.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that improve process capability, product quality, and overall supplier performance.

Manufacturing Standards, Procedures and Policies

• Extensive knowledge of manufacturing standards, policies, procedures, and compliance requirements.

• Ability to monitor manufacturing processes and support adherence to organizational quality expectations.

Supplier Management - Manufacturing

• Extensive knowledge of supplier management processes and supplier relationship management.

• Ability to monitor supplier performance, develop quality standards, and strengthen supplier partnerships.

Quality Orientation

• Extensive knowledge of quality management methods, quality systems, and continuous improvement techniques.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and support quality standards that improve operational and supplier quality performance.

Effective Communications

• Demonstrated ability to effectively transmit, receive, and interpret information with suppliers, manufacturing teams, engineering stakeholders, and cross‑functional partners.

• Ability to deliver constructive feedback, create technical reports, and communicate complex quality issues…