Supplier Development Engineer

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.

About the role

We are seeking a Supplier Development Engineer to assess supplier quality and ensure all products are free from defects and comply with manufacturing specifications and legal standards.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the quality of supplies by conducting tests and assessments on incoming materials to identify any quality issues.
• Develop supplier inspection, testing, and evaluation mechanisms.
• Generate reports on supplier quality by monitoring defect rates and areas that could lead to potential flaws; guide suppliers to reduce these defect rates.
• Research potential vendors, assessing their manufacturing environment, practices, and procedures.
• Conduct supplier quality control audits to ensure compliance with organizational and federal policies and standards.
• Support suppliers in improving their performance through process enhancements, implementing process controls, and developing quality assurance plans.

Requirements

Effective Communications

• Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools, and techniques.
• Ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through appropriate communication behaviors.
• Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.
• Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.
• Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.
• Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.
• Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.

Problem Solving

• Knowledge of approaches, tools, and techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational, or process problems.
• Ensures capture of lessons learned from problem-solving efforts.
• Organizes potential problem solvers and leads problem resolution efforts.
• Uses varying problem-solving approaches and techniques as appropriate.
• Contributes to standard practices for problem-solving approaches, tools, and processes.
• Analyzes and synthesizes information and devises alternative resolution strategies.
• Develops successful resolutions to critical or wide-impact problems.

Process Improvement

• Understanding and insight into evaluating current product quality and production methods.
• Maintains focus on the continuous improvement of processes, products, and services.
• Streamlines the critical workflow for executing key processes.
• Sets priorities for addressing process problems that limit performance.
• Develops methods for improving and establishing controls for critical processes.
• Monitors external sources for applicable new methods and controls.
• Analyzes findings from improvement cycles to ensure success of interventions.
• Coaches others to develop the skills to improve processes.

Manufacturing Standards, Procedures, and Policies

• Knowledge of organizational standards, procedures, and policies in manufacturing activities.
• Ability to plan, guide, and monitor manufacturing processes for compliance.
• Ensures communication vehicles effectively inform affected areas and personnel.
• Consults on development and implementation of cross-functional standards.
• Participates in the development of organizational policies and practices.
• Develops and uses control and monitoring mechanisms for adherence.
• Collaborates with other functions on establishing and documenting joint standards.
• Participates in defining architectural principles and standards for the organization.

Supplier Management - Manufacturing

• Knowledge of processes and methods to effectively manage business relationships and transactions with suppliers of raw materials or product components.
• Facilitates supplier partnering arrangements that share risk and reward.
• Monitors supplier performance; works to resolve discrepancies between performance and agreements.
• Develops quality standards and controls for suppliers.
• Builds and maintains partnerships with multiple and/or large suppliers.
• Evaluates issues and terminates supplier relationships as appropriate; works with legal departments.
• Ensures the fulfillment of report and record-keeping requirements.

Supplier Evaluations and Certification

• Knowledge of supplier evaluations and certification.
• Ability to identify methods, tools, and documentation for evaluating, selecting, and certifying vendors, suppliers, and partners.
• Evaluates potential suppliers for a wide variety of products.
• Develops a preferred suppliers list for selection and evaluation.
• Designs key aspects of and processes for evaluating a supplier's capabilities.
• Compares and contrasts alternative methods and tools for the evaluation of organizations and products.
• Analyzes and resolves supplier product quality, support, or pricing problems.
• Works with multiple evaluation, selection, and certification initiatives.

Qualifications

Top candidates may have:

• Manufacturing experience (e.g., running, evaluating, setting up, or troubleshooting machinery).
• ASQ Certification.

Additional Information

• This position may require travel up to 30% of the time.
• This position requires working onsite five days a week.
• Relocation is available for this position.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Pay

Pay range: $112,710.00 - $169,060.00. Compensation and benefits may vary depending on job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance, and experience.

Benefits

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Paid time off (vacation, holidays, volunteer time, 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.