Senior Supplier Development Engineer – Fabrications
Caterpillar Inc.
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Mossville • Illinois • United States
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Salary
💰 $128,470 - $192,710 per year
Job Level
About the role
- Drives supplier performance, capability, and continuous improvement across complex fabrication suppliers.
- Ensures suppliers meet Supplier Excellence Recognition (S.E.R.) expectations for quality, delivery, and responsiveness.
- Serves as a technical leader, deploying Built in Quality (BIQ) fundamentals and collaborating cross-functionally to strengthen the end-to-end supply base.
- Build strong technical and operational relationships with complex fabrication suppliers to enable their success in meeting S.E.R. shipping performance and quality metrics.
- Monitor supplier performance trends, identify risks, and drive corrective and preventive actions.
- Proactively assess supplier capacity, throughput, and potential constraints using NPE tools and data-driven analysis.
- Work action plans with suppliers resolving gaps identified by the ECR-S process to evaluate the impact of changes on supplier capacity, capability, and resources.
- Collaborate with suppliers to implement mitigation plans including expansions, tooling adds, staffing strategies, scheduling optimization, and contingency planning.
- Lead deployment of BIQ fundamentals through training, on-site assessments, and hands-on coaching.
- Ensure robust quality gates are in place, and corrective actions are driven to the root cause.
- Assess supplier capabilities, PFMEA/Control Plans, SPC, and readiness for new product introduction.
- Provide technical guidance on fabrication processes including machining, welding, forming, and paint/coatings.
- Lead and conduct CAV-E gap analysis for welding and paint, define closure plans.
Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related manufacturing discipline
- Working knowledge of APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning)
- Experience using capacity planning tools such as NPE and ECR-S
- Prior experience in procurement or supply chain–related roles
- Background as a Product Performance Engineer and/or Supplier Quality Engineer
- Experience as a coach and a mentor for less experienced team members
- Hands-on experience supporting CAT products within manufacturing and/or quality environments
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
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
capacity planningAPQPPFMEAControl PlansSPCfabrication processesmachiningweldingformingpaint/coatings
Soft Skills
technical leadershipcollaborationcoachingmentoringproblem-solvingcommunicationrelationship buildinganalytical thinkingcontinuous improvementrisk assessment