Mgr, Experimental Test & Facilities

Job Purpose

The Engineering Experimental Test & Facility Manager leads a diverse team of 10 salaried and 30 skilled trades hourly employees conducting experimental testing and product development of locomotives and locomotive systems in support of new product development, reliability improvement, and continuous product improvement. The group is also responsible for ensuring that the campus, buildings, and infrastructure are well maintained to provide a safe, productive, and environmentally friendly workplace for all employees.

• Leads the execution of experimental testing of locomotives, large diesel engines, traction motors, alternators, and various locomotive subcomponents in test cells and work areas on the La Grange campus.
• Manage engineering materials warehouse, shipping, and receiving.
• Manages an extensive list of contracted services including plant security, housekeeping, groundskeeping, snow removal, pest control, fire system, trash and recycling.
• Drives safety and good housekeeping standards in all areas of the workplace.
• Monitors workforce activities to ensure compliance with recommended safety procedures.
• Participates in the selection of new employees, salaried and hourly.
• Trains, develops, assigns work, and evaluates immediate subordinates.
• Responsible for overall departmental planning and objectives.
• Coordinates activities with staff of engineers and supervisors.
• Interprets divisional and departmental policy and sets priorities for supervisors as needed.
• Complies with the terms of the UAW local and national labor agreements.
• Maintains near‑constant contact with others outside the work group.
• Prepares and manages departmental expense and CAPEX budgets.
• Provides resource estimates, cost estimates, and forecasts of expenditures.
• Interfaces with the Village of McCook, Village of La Grange, and neighboring businesses as needed.
• BIQ Process implementation and monthly metrics reporting on RFL/RFM/ETO/STI/IRLATS.

• Required:
  
  Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Engineering.
• Preferred:
  Master’s degree in engineering or an MBA.

• 10+ years of relevant work experience.
• Understanding of Caterpillar’s Code of Conduct and a track record of upholding Cat Values.
• Thorough knowledge of design, development and test engineering, manufacturing and assembly operators, material procurement processes, engineering processes and procedures.
• Knowledge of large diesel engine design and operation.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and sketches.
• Extremely high level of analytical ability where problems are very unusual and extremely difficult.
• Ability to apply engineering principles to design, test and other engineering procedures.
• Fluency in all MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• High level of oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with others, motivate employees, and elicit work output.
• Proven ability to handle complex technical logistics and management issues.
• Strong project management skills.
• High attention to detail.

• Prior Caterpillar work experience and knowledge of Caterpillar engine applications.
• Previous locomotive familiarity and test experience.
• Prior work with UAW represented employees.
• Lean manufacturing and process improvement experience.
• Certification in problem‑solving tools such as 6‑Sigma, 8‑D, Shainin, or others.

• Chosen employee will be expected to be onsite during all core working hours, Monday through Friday. Remote work will be minimal and only permitted on an exception basis.
• There are minimal travel requirements.

• Strength – Position involves work in both an office environment with daily visits to an industrial environment. Frequent sitting, standing and walking. Occasional light to medium‑level lifting (up to 30 pounds).
• Motion – Position regularly requires standard motions associated with working in an office environment.
• Vision/Hearing – Frequent verbal communications, including both talking and hearing.
• Work Environment – Position is located in an office environment with daily visits to an industrial environment which…