Supply Chain Planning Engineer

Caterpillar Inc.

Supply Chain Planning Engineer at Caterpillar developing Supply Chain solutions and strategies. Collaborating on sourcing and planning to support business initiatives with a focus on sustainability.

Posted 7/1/2026full-timeLafayette • Illinois • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $112,710 - $169,060 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

The Supply Chain Planning Engineer will be part of the Supply Chain Planning team supporting the Supply Chain Planning Strategy around sourcing/resourcing impacting Lafayette Engine Center and leading Supply Chain projects to develop Supply Chain solutions to support critical business initiatives.
Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management Supports Total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis.
Develop Dual sourcing and capacity planning strategies.
Perform Supply Chain Planning Analysis utilizing Plan For Every Part Workbook and other tools to ensure Supply Chain parameters aligned with facility targets.
Investigate and incorporate industry benchmarks, metrics and best practices to develop optimal supply chains for suppliers and/or product sets.
End-to-end NSI project ownership (from sourcing through production readiness).
Timeline management, critical path tracking, milestone governance.
Risk identification, mitigation planning, and escalation.
Cross-functional coordination of supply chain related tasks (engineering, logistics, BR, ops).
Represent Supply Chain in sourcing council and New Source Introduction gateway meetings. Ensuring Supply Chain planning work has been completed prior to implementation of resource.
Lead internal Supply Chain teams to develop & implement Supply Chain solutions to meet project requirements.
Develop project reports and provide regular communication to Management/Stakeholders on project status.
Operate as the liaison between Purchasing and Supply Chain for all supplier resourcing activities: including resource transition, sample orders and resource inventory buffer.
Driving accountability on project and follow-through deliverables.
Managing competing priorities and ambiguity.
Process standardization and continuous improvement.
Work effectively with diverse, multi-functional teams in order to apply the Supply Chain Planning process.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or other closely related disciplines or progressive supply chain experience.
Advanced knowledge ability to effectively use Microsoft Office tools such as Excel & Power Point.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to communicate across all management levels.
Effectiveness Measurement: Working knowledge of effective measurement techniques and ability to measure the quality and quantity of work effort for the purpose of improvement.
Analytical Thinking: Working knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.
Cross-Team Integration: Working knowledge and understanding of the importance of inter-team collaboration in breaking down silos and achieving business results; ability to lead employees from various functions to communicate, coordinate work across divisions, and collaborate in solving problems as one team.
Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Working knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
Project Management: Extensive knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.
Standard Operating Procedures: Knowledge of established standard operating procedures (SOP); ability to design, implement and evaluate standard operating procedures affecting daily and strategic business operations in order to increase operational efficiency.
Supplier Management: Working knowledge of processes and methods to effectively manage business relationships and transactions with suppliers of raw materials or product components; ability to apply related knowledge, experience and skills into real practice.
Supply Chain Management: Working knowledge of functions, principles and techniques used in supply chain management; ability to develop and use, strategies, practices and tools for controlling the logistical processes.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Supply Chain PlanningTotal Cost Of Ownership AnalysisCapacity Planning StrategiesEffective Measurement TechniquesDecision MakingCritical ThinkingStandard Operating ProceduresProcess StandardizationRisk IdentificationMilestone Governance

Soft Skills

Excellent Communication SkillsTeam CollaborationProblem SolvingAccountabilityManaging Competing Priorities