Supplier Development Engineer – Electric Power

Supplier Development Engineer

Join a dynamic team as a Supplier Development Engineer, where you'll be the driving force behind supplier quality and manufacturing excellence. In this role, you'll assess the quality of suppliers to ensure products are defect-free and meet all manufacturing specifications and legal standards. You'll lead efforts to resolve quality issues, enforce accountability, and improve process stability through audits, corrective actions, and hands-on engagement.

What You Will Do

• Serve as the primary point of contact between the business and dedicated suppliers.
• Lead weekly supplier meetings to review and resolve quality defects, ensuring timely renewals and issue resolution.
• Assign and approve PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) documentation for designated suppliers.
• Conduct random audits of supplier manufacturing processes to ensure compliance and process stability.
• Manage and track daily quality defects from suppliers, analyzing frequency and trends to drive improvements.
• Issue and manage corrective action requests (CARs), ensuring suppliers provide robust RCCA (Root Cause and Corrective Action) responses and sign off on agreed changes.
• Expedite resolution of supplier issues to meet production and quality expectations.
• Lead "sort and contain" activities to isolate non-conforming materials and prevent defective parts from entering production.
• Support suppliers in improving performance through process enhancements, quality assurance plans, and implementation of process controls.
• Research and assess potential vendors, including audits of their manufacturing environments and practices.
• Generate and maintain reports on supplier quality metrics, including defect rates and improvement opportunities.

Degree Requirement

Degree or equivalent experience desired.

What You Will Have

Effective Communications: Working knowledge and understanding of effective communication concepts, tools, and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

Process Improvement: Working knowledge and understanding and insight into evaluating current product quality and production methods and ability to maintain focus on the continuous improvement of processes, products, and services.

Production Part Approval Process (PPAP): Extensive experience and knowledge of Production Part Approval Processes (PPAP) elements, submissions, and objectives; ability to determine whether a supplier can manufacture products that meet the quality requirements and standards of their customers consistently.

Manufacturing Standards, Procedures and Policies: Working knowledge of organizational standards, procedures, and policies in manufacturing activities; ability to plan, guide, and monitor manufacturing processes for compliance.

Supplier Management - MFG: Extensive experience and 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.

Supplier Evaluations and Certification: Working knowledge of supplier evaluations and certification; ability to identify the methods, tools, and documentation for evaluating, selecting, and certifying vendors, suppliers, and partners.

Additional Requirements

Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and ability to assess process stability and capability. Familiarity with "sort and contain" methods for managing non-conforming materials. Proven ability to enforce supplier accountability and drive corrective actions. Excellent communication and relationship management skills to serve as the liaison between suppliers and internal teams. Process-oriented mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence.

What Will Put You Ahead: Experience with PPAP documentation and approval processes. Skilled in conducting supplier audits and evaluating compliance with internal and external standards. Ability to interpret and validate RCCA responses and ensure effective implementation of corrective actions.

Physical Requirements

The ability to occasionally lift parts up to 25 lbs. individually or up to 70 lbs. with a team lift. The ability to bend, reach, and squat while performing tasks. The ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) for assigned tasks. The ability to work in an environment with frequently changing temperatures. The ability to stand and/or sit for extended periods while performing tasks.

We are committed to ensuring a supportive and accommodating work environment for all employees. Please advise of any reasonable accommodation requests to facilitate your ability to perform the job's essential functions.

Additional Information

This position requires the candidate to work a 5-day-a-week schedule in the office. Travel up to 10% is possible. Relocation is NOT available for this position. Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. For 100 years, we have been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

Please ensure you frequently check the e-mail account you provided on your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method in our recruiting process.

Summary Pay Range

$95,640.00 - $143,520.00 Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

Benefits

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of 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 * These benefits also apply to part-time employees