Career Area:

Manufacturing

Job Description:

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. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Job Summary

The MMT – Physical Automation Development team plays a critical role in advancing Caterpillar’s manufacturing capabilities through innovative automation and welding fabrication solutions. As a Manufacturing Project Engineer, you will lead the development and deployment of automated welding and fabrication processes, supporting the production of highly engineered components across multiple manufacturing platforms.

This role sits at the intersection of automation engineering, welding fabrication, and manufacturing execution. You will drive projects that improve process capability, equipment performance, quality, and cost, while supporting new product launches and future‑state automation strategies. Acting as a technical leader and subject matter expert, you will guide projects from concept through implementation, ensuring alignment with Caterpillar’s commitments to People, Quality, Velocity, and Cost.

What You Will Do

• Provide technical leadership for automation and welding fabrication projects, partnering with manufacturing, engineering, suppliers, and automation teams to improve productivity, quality, and cost performance
• Lead development of automated welding and fabrication processes for New Product Introduction (NPI), Continuous Product Improvement (CPI), and manufacturing transformations
• Develop, evaluate, and implement automated welding systems, robotic cells, fixturing, and supporting manufacturing processes within plant and supplier environments
• Support the design, installation, commissioning, and ramp‑up of welding automation and fabrication equipment, ensuring safe, stable, and repeatable production
• Evaluate product and process designs to assess weldability, manufacturability, automation feasibility, and opportunities for process improvement
• Collaborate closely with design engineering to drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) improvements related to welding and automation
• Serve as a technical mentor and resource for manufacturing and automation engineers, promoting standardized automation practices
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, defining scope, schedule, resources, risks, and capital requirements
• Execute manufacturing transformation initiatives aligned with People, Quality, Velocity, and Cost, ensuring scalable and sustainable automation solutions
• Coordinate capability deployment activities with product groups, automation teams, and manufacturing engineering to ensure production readiness and successful launches
• Mentor less experienced welding engineers
• Keep up to date with new technologies in the areas of welding and automation

Education Requirement

• Bachelor’s degree in Weld Engineering, Weld Engineering Technology, or a related field, or equivalent technical experience in automation and welding fabrication.

What Skills You Will Have

Project Management:

• Leads automation and welding fabrication projects from concept through implementation
• Organizes and drives component and process startup with manufacturing facilities and suppliers
• Coordinates and influences cross‑functional teams across engineering, operations, automation, and supply chain
• Applies best practices in capital project execution to deliver predictable, repeatable outcomes
• Provide project updates to project team, manufacturing facilities, Caterpillar welding community and other stakeholders

Decision Making and Critical Thinking:

• Evaluates technical, operational, and automation tradeoffs to develop enterprise‑focused solutions
• Makes informed decisions that balance safety, quality, velocity, and cost in manufacturing environments
• Communicates decisions clearly to build alignment across engineering, manufacturing, and automation teams

Engineering – Manufacturing (MFG):

• Applies weld process design principles to develop robust automated welding and fabrication processes
• Supports robotic welding, automated fabrication cells, tooling, and fixturing development and optimization
• Applies lean manufacturing principles to reduce waste, improve flow, and enhance process capability
• Utilizes welding and fabrication knowledge (materials, joint design, process controls, specifications, standards and manufacturing practices) to support automation success
• Partners with suppliers and internal teams to develop, validate, and industrialize automation solutions
• Mentors manufacturing and automation engineers on process design, automation standards, and best practices

Technical Troubleshooting:

• Identifies and resolves complex automation, welding, equipment, and process issues using structured problem solving
• Partners with operations, quality, engineering, and suppliers to address issues impacting safety, quality, delivery, or cost
• Leads root cause analysis and corrective actions to drive sustainable improvements in automated manufacturing performance

Additional Information:

• This position requires the candidate to work onsite five days a week at the Chillicothe, IL office.
• This role is designed to be hands‑on and balanced, with approximately 50% of time spent in the lab supporting automation and welding fabrication activities, and 50% focused on desk‑based work including project planning, analysis, and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.
• Visa sponsorship is NOT available with this position.
• This position may require up to 25% travel.

Summary Pay Range:

$112,710.00 - $169,060.00

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

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates:

March 19, 2026 - March 30, 2026

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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