Quality & Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Career Area:

Engineering

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 Quality & Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead the next evolution of product testing and validation at the Tucson Proving Ground.

In this role, you will deliver trusted, world-class test data that drives confident engineering decisions, accelerates advanced technologies, 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.

Why This Role Matters

You will be accountable for the integrity of Caterpillar's engineering validation. Your leadership ensures quality is not an outcome-it is built into every test, every process, every day. Your impact will directly influence machine safety, product reliability, and our ability to solve our customers' toughest challenges. If you thrive in complex problem solving, leading through influence, and driving quality as a competitive advantage, this is an opportunity to shape both results and culture.

What You Will Do

Leadership & Stakeholder Impact

* Serve as the site leader for validation quality, laboratory integrity, and continuous improvement

* Act as a trusted partner to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring high standards of quality, responsiveness, and credibility

* Collaborate across Engineering, Operations, and customers Product Groups to deliver data-driven solutions to complex challenges

Quality Management & Compliance

* Lead and sustain an ISO 17025-accredited Quality Management System

* Ensure audit readiness by driving internal and external audit execution

* Identify nonconformances and implement support effective, sustainable corrective actions

* Ensure all validation processes, data collection, and reporting meet Caterpillar and regulatory standards

* Establish and monitor quality metrics tied to safety, process excellence and outcomes

Continuous Improvement (Built-In Quality)

* Lead Built-In Quality (BIQ) strategy and deployment across validation and technical services

* Embed BIQ into daily operations as a mindset-not a program

* Use data, defect trends, and analytics to identify root causes and prevent defects upstream

* Validate improvement effectiveness through early detection and defect elimination

* Champion Lean and Six Sigma initiatives aligned to customer value and risk reduction

Validation & Test Excellence

* Ensure validation methods and workflows are robust, repeatable, and credible

* Oversee test integrity and readiness, including:

* Calibration and instrumentation

* Contamination control

* Torque and weld quality

* Pre-delivery inspection standards

* Enable safe, reliable data collection to support engineering decisions and product improvements

* Partner with Operations to improve process capability and execution

People, Organization & Financial Leadership

* Lead a multidisciplinary team including Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Lean, Training, and Site IT

* Develop team capability, engagement, and future leaders

* Manage operating and capital budgets aligned with quality and site priorities

* Set and balance priorities across programs, optimizing for safety, risk, cost, and delivery

What skills you will have

Technical Excellence:
Experience in quality, manufacturing, engineering validation, or technical services leadership. Strong background in ISO based Quality Management Systems (ISO 17025 strongly preferred). Deep understanding of engineering validation processes, laboratory operations, and manufacturing flow. Ability to interpret technical documentation and system-level interactions.

Problem…