This role provides technical expertise and leadership to Caterpillar’s Hydraulics supply base within the Resources Industries Segment. This includes execution of robust quality plans within the suppler network, implementation of well-documented continuous quality improvement processes, and strict process controls. Results will be used for the evaluation and development of new and existing suppliers worldwide, to maximizing Quality, Cost, Logistics, Delivery, and Management (QCLDM) within the supply network. Responsibility to ensure that a supplier is able to meet corporate and business unit requirements for Supplier Excellence Recognition certification levels and customer requirements for quality, cost, and delivery of purchased material.

What you will do:
• Ensuring the quality of supplies by conducting tests and assessments on incoming supplies to identify any quality issues; Developing supplier inspection, testing, and evaluation mechanism.
• Generating reports on supplier quality, by monitoring their defect rates and areas that can lead to potential flaws; Guiding suppliers to reduce these defect rates.
• Researching the potential vendors, assessing their manufacturing environment, practices, and procedures; Conducting supplier quality control audits to ensure compliance with organizational and federal policies and standards.
• Supporting suppliers in improving their performance through process enhancements, implementing process controls, and developing quality assurance plans.

Effective Communications: 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.

Education Requirement:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

What You Will Have:

Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

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

Quality Orientation: Knowledge of quality management methods, tools, and techniques; ability to create and support an environment that meets the quality goals of the organization.

Production Part Approval Process (PPAP): 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: Knowledge of organizational standards, procedures and policies in manufacturing activities; ability to plan, guide, and monitor manufacturing processes for compliance.

Supplier Management - MFG: 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: Knowledge of supplier evaluations and certification; ability to identify the methods, tools and documentation for evaluating, selecting and certifying vendors, suppliers and partners.

Top Candidates Will Also Have:

• Prior experience as a Supplier Development Engineer or in a related engineering role, particularly within hydraulics or off-highway equipment industries.
• An engineering degree (preferred) with a strong foundation in supplier quality, manufacturing processes, and component development.
• Background with companies such as Caterpillar, hydraulic component manufacturers, or Off-Highway equipment OEMs.
• Proven ability to collaborate directly with external suppliers to drive quality improvements and address capacity planning—especially for hydraulic components.
• Familiarity with the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) and 8D problem-solving methodology.
• Experience in hydraulic component development and a solid understanding of supplier-owned intellectual property challenges.
• Strong relationship-building skills with internal engineering teams and peer SDEs across a global enterprise.
• Comfort working in a technically complex category with global supply chain exposure and resilience planning responsibilities.

Additional Information:

• This position is based in Mossville or Decatur, Illinois.
• Relocation assistance is not available for this role.
• Sponsorship is not available for employment visa status.
• This role requires up to 50% travel, including visits to supplier sites and Caterpillar facilities.