Product Procurement Engineer

Caterpillar Brazil; India; On-site; INR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Caterpillar invites applicants for a procurement role focused on advanced product quality planning, cost management, and supplier collaboration. The candidate will drive APQP and CPI activities from concept through PPAP, ensuring parts meet quality standards, cost targets, and schedules.

Experience across packaging, transport, and supply chain is valued. The role emphasizes developing world-class supply networks, applying data-driven decision making, and leading cost-optimization initiatives

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of data-driven decision making processes and tools.
• Ability to gather and analyze data to support business goals.
• Strong analytical thinking to identify root causes and alternatives.
• Effective communication in written and verbal form to stakeholders.
• Understanding of cost-benefit analysis including ROI/NPV calculations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee APQP and cost management from concept to PPAP to ensure quality and timelines.
• Develop and implement supply strategies to create competitive advantages.
• Maintain quality feedback loops to incorporate lessons across suppliers.
• Drive value analysis and value engineering through cost modeling and manufacturability.

Skills

Data-driven decision making

Analytical thinking

Effective communications

Interpersonal relationships

Cost-benefit analysis

Supply chain management

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Career Area: Procurement Job Description: Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc. When you join Caterpillar, you are 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.

Role Definition: This role manages part development and quality feedback loops for New Product Introduction (NPI), Continuous Product Improvement (CPI), and New Source Introduction (NSI) related activities by collaborating with suppliers, design control engineers, value chain engineering, and procurement category teams.

Responsibilities

• Managing Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Cost management related activities from concept to PPAP to deliver parts at the right quality, total cost, and meet timelines. They accomplish this through collaboration with various functional areas like packaging, transportation, business resources, supply chain, etc.
• Implementing product supply strategies aligned with the category management supply strategies that will create a competitive advantage for our customers by developing, optimizing, and integrating a world‑class supply network.
• Managing the quality feedback loops to ensure lessons learned on quality defects are applied across the supply base.
• Driving Value Analysis and Value Engineering (VAVE) through cost modeling, design for manufacturability, and leveraging suppliers’ capabilities.

Degree Requirement

Degree or equivalent experience desired.

Skill Descriptors

Data-driven Decision Making

Knowledge of the data-driven decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to gather and analyze data to make organizational decisions that align with strategic business objectives and goals.

• Applies an assigned technique for data-driven thinking in a Decision-Making process.
• Discerns between "signal" and "noise" when interpreting data.
• Identifies, obtains, and organizes relevant data and ideas.
• Participates in the process of choosing KPIs and metrics to influence decisions.
• Utilizes the basic data collection and evaluation tools and techniques.

Analytical Thinking

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.

• Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue and determining its significance.
• Makes a systematic comparison of two or more alternative solutions.
• Uses flow charts, Pareto charts, fish diagrams, etc. to disclose meaningful data patterns.
• Identifies the major forces, events and people impacting and impacted by the situation at hand.
• Uses logic and intuition to make inferences about the meaning of the data and arrive at conclusions.

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.

• 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.

Interpersonal Relationships

Knowledge of the techniques and the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.

• Explains impact of interactions with individuals and groups.
• Identifies roles and responsibilities for self and others.
• Demonstrates an understanding of alternative points of view.
• Collaborates with departmental associates and management.
• Adapts interaction style to situations and people.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Knowledge of the principles and tools used in cost-benefit analysis; ability to analyze the purpose and scope of a producer, product, process, or project in terms of cost and benefits.

• Follows organizational guidelines and procedures for conducting a cost-benefit analysis.
• Participates in the development of a cost-benefit analysis.
• Calculates common measurements such as NPV and ROI.
• Documents and measures direct and indirect costs and projected benefits.
• Resolves common errors or omissions in developing the analysis.

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.

• Follows procedures in carrying out routine supplier management tasks.
• Uses electronic systems or tools to record/retrieve supplier information and carry out transactions with suppliers.
• Resolves routine supplier issues; escalates non-routine issues up chain of command.
• Researches alternative vendors or suppliers; participates in supplier selection.
• Works with suppliers to ensure that purchases meet delivery date and quality specifications.

Strategic Sourcing

Knowledge of strategic sourcing methods, technologies and processes; ability to analyze, improve and re-evaluate organizational procurement process continuously.

• Works with various basic components of strategic sourcing, such as data analysis, market research and purchasing budgets examination.
• Participates in enhancing institutional sourcing process continuously including identifying improvement opportunities.
• Conducts strategic sourcing activities in a limited environment.
• Follows relevant standards, policies and practices regarding strategic sourcing.
• Assists senior sourcing professionals with strategic sourcing in multiple environments.

Supply Chain Management

Knowledge of functions, principles and techniques used in supply chain management; ability to develop and implement strategies, practices and tools for controlling the whole processes.

• Recognizes software systems or components used to manage supply chain.
• Participates in supply chain analysis and uses it to spot trends and improvement opportunities.
• Discusses considerations for integrating partner and supplier transactions.
• Summarizes supply chain considerations for different types of products.
• Works with a specific part of supply chain management process.

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

There’s more to work at Caterpillar than just the work itself. We hire smart, friendly people and it shows in our culture. We hold ourselves to high standards and make sure our values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, commitment and sustainability come to life in the way we work. We make sure our employees feel continuously challenged while also supported. We provide professional growth opportunities, including leadership programs. We celebrate the diversity of our team, while also working together as one Caterpillar. Our culture, like everything at our company, is made possible by each employee’s contribution. Person by person, we create the environment we work in, and we are proud of the Caterpillar we’ve built.