Supplier Development Engineer

Caterpillar Brazil; Ciénega de Flores; On-site; MXN 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in Ciénega de Flores, Nuevo León, is seeking a Supplier Development Engineer to act as the trusted advisor for the assigned supply base, driving lean practices and APQP/PPAP readiness.

You will analyze supplier performance, support start-ups, and collaborate with CPPD, NPI, and CPI teams to ensure robust production readiness. Candidates should have a quality/manufacturing/engineering degree and strong English, with ASQ certification as a plus for top candidates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree related to Quality / Manufacturing / Engineering; Advanced English-speaking level is required.
• Effective communications, problem solving and process improvement skills are essential.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, and supplier quality control processes is expected.
• Knowledge of manufacturing standards, policies, and quality management methods.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with suppliers and engineering to assure proper process control standards are in place and monitor manufacturing processes for improvements.
• Provide technical support during start-up activities and ongoing strategic support.
• Review APQP documentation (Process FMEA, Process Control Plans, Gage R&R) and participate in PPAP activities.
• Generate reports on supplier quality and guide vendors to reduce defect rates.
• Resolve problems between suppliers, plants, and engineering personnel.
• Coordinate with CPPD, NPI, CPI teams to transition design to production and manage deviations.
• Support suppliers in improving performance through process controls and quality assurance plans.

Skills

APQP knowledge

PPAP knowledge

Quality orientation

Supplier management

Process improvement

CPPD collaboration

NPI collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quality / Manufacturing / Engineering

ASQ certification

Job description

Career Area: Procurement 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.

About the Role

The primary responsibility of a Supplier Development Engineer is to serve as the trusted advisor for assigned supply base through the following functional responsibilities: Assessing potential suppliers via on-site Quality audits, driving implementation of Lean, BIQ, & APQP, assuring production readiness through rigorous review of supplier PPAP submission, being recognized as the expert in supplier quality.

What you will do

• Collaborate with suppliers and engineering to assure proper process control standards are in place and continuously monitor key manufacturing processes for improvement opportunities.
• Provide technical support during start-up activities and provide ongoing strategic support.
• Review APQP documentation (e.g., Process FMEA {failure mode & effects analysis}, Process Control Plans, Gage R&R {repeatability & reproducibility}). Participate in process FMEA for suppliers’ manufacturing processes.
• 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.
• Resolve problems between supplier and plants, suppliers, and engineering personnel, and between facilities.
• Research and assess potential vendors, assessing their manufacturing environment, practices, and procedures; Conducting supplier quality control audits to ensure compliance with organizational and federal policies and standards.
• Coordinate with engineering personnel on matters regarding Concurrent Product and Process Development (CPPD), New Product Introduction (NPI), Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) teams; prove design to production, engineering changes, deviations, supplier designs, specification approvals.
• Supporting suppliers in improving their performance through process enhancements, implementing process controls, and developing quality assurance plans.

Degree Requirements

Bachelor’s degree related to Quality / Manufacturing / Engineering. Advanced English-speaking level is required.

What You Have – Skills and Experiences

• Effective Communications: Extensive Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques Effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
• Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; Apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.
• Process Improvement: Extensive 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. Knowledge of shop operations and maintenance procedures.
• Quality Orientation: Knowledge of quality management methods, tools, and techniques Create and support an environment that meets the quality goals of the organization.
• APQP knowledge Defect analysis experience Production Part Approval Process (PPAP): Expert Knowledge of Production Part Approval Processes (PPAP) elements, submissions, and objectives Determine whether a supplier can manufacture products that meet the quality requirements and standards of their customers consistently.
• Manufacturing Standards, Procedures and Policies: Extensive Knowledge of organizational standards, procedures and policies in manufacturing activities Plan, guide, and monitor manufacturing processes for compliance.
• Machining / Metal Forming / Welding / Paint / Cleanliness / Part Preservation experience.
• Supplier Management - MFG: Extensive 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: Expert 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: American Society for Quality (ASQ) certification.

Additional Information

Location: Ciénega de Flores, Nuevo León

Domestic Relocation assistance is Available for this position.

Full time position with great benefits.

Travel is likely up to 25%.

Final Details

The Caterpillar Code of Conduct states that we will select, and place employees based on their qualifications for the job to be performed, without regard to race, religion, national origin, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability. In this company we do not request pregnancy tests, nor HIV tests as requirements for employment entry, permanence, or promotion.

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.