2027 Summer Corporate Intern - Procurement

Caterpillar Inc.; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 30,996 - 55,448; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend

Relocation assistance

Medical coverage

PTO

Paid holidays

Volunteer day

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. invites students to join our Procurement internship in Peoria, IL for a 12-week, 40-hour-per-week program. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop sourcing strategies, support supplier negotiations, and analyze data to drive cost improvements.

This onsite role offers valuable networking with Caterpillar professionals worldwide. The internship emphasizes professional development across procurement disciplines, including category buying, supplier development,

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in a full-time 4-year university/college in Business, Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, or Supply Chain.
• Must have 30 completed semester hours before start or 12 hours for transfer students.
• Minimum 2.8/4.0 GPA.
• Must relocate to Peoria, IL or be available to work onsite for the internship duration.

Responsibilities

• Support development and implementation of global sourcing strategies.
• Collaborate with product supply and category teams to drive cost savings.
• Analyze data for supplier negotiations and decision-making.
• Engage with Caterpillar teams worldwide to meet quality, cost, and delivery goals.

Skills

Data analysis

Cross-cultural collaboration

Business process understanding

Project management

Written and verbal communication

Team player

Attention to detail

Education

4-year university/college enrollment

Minimum 2.8/4.0 GPA

Tools

Relocation logistics

Job description

About The Role

Caterpillar's Procurement team manages the purchasing of materials that go into more than 300 product lines, ranging from construction and mining equipment to diesel and natural gas engines and industrial turbines. We also purchase materials and services needed to operate our business such as office supplies, perishable tooling, IT hardware and software and more.

As a Procurement intern, you will have the opportunity to work on and provide leadership on many exciting projects such as developing and implementing global sourcing strategies, interfacing with product supply and category teams to deliver cost savings and gathering and analyzing data for supplier negotiations. Our professionals work closely with our internal customers around the world to ensure we meet their quality, cost, and delivery objectives.

What You Will Do

You’ll join a team with diverse project responsibilities and have valuable networking opportunities with all levels of Caterpillar employees. The internship is a 40‑hour‑per‑week assignment lasting 12 weeks. You can focus on building professional abilities in roles including (but not limited to):

• Category Buyer: Responsible and accountable for directing the development, and/or communication and implementation of a site, regional, or worldwide sourcing strategy. Responsible for managing policies, agreements, source catalogs, and special purchasing programs, and supporting specific Product line(s) NPI programs.
• Facility Procurement Professional: Manages supply network procurement related activities for a facility to deliver procurement excellence and integration between Procurement organization and the team supporting Facility / Divisional Leaders.
• Supplier Development Engineer: Responsible for collaboration and advisement for assigned supply base to provide technical expertise and leadership in the execution of a robust quality plan within the supplier network.
• Procurement Professional: Analyzes and maintains assigned processes that produce output excellence, builds expertise for the assigned process area, and contributing to continuous improvement efforts. Leads project management of process improvement, process development, and process execution for Procurement team.

Skills And Experiences

• Analytical skills, initiating ideas, troubleshooting, problem-solving, and critical thinking capabilities
• Ability to work with others of diverse cultures, interpersonal styles, and abilities in a constructive and collaborative manner
• Fundamental understanding of business process designs, engineering for a manufacturing environment, supplier relationship management concepts, and logistics and supply chain management
• Organize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, ability to quickly gain and effectively apply new skills & knowledge
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Participate in and build on our inclusive, constructive, and productive work environment
• Ensure all team member’s contributions are recognized and valued

Internship Program Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in a full‑time at a 4‑year accredited university/college in one of the following fields of study: Business, Industrial/Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, or Supply Chain Management at the time of application and throughout the program.
• Must have 30 completed semester hours before the start of the internship. If a transfer student must have 12 semester hours completed at a 4‑year university.
• Minimum 2.8/4.0 cumulative grade point average at current institution.
• Must be able to relocate to Peoria, IL area or indicated work location for the duration of the internship and complete daily work commute using reliable transportation.

Top Candidates Will Also Have

• Involvement with an academic campus teams or related experience
• Project or Team Leadership experience
• Previous business or technical internship/co‑op or relevant experience
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Additional Information

• Please attach your resume and an unofficial copy of your transcript to your application.
• Applicants will be considered for positions throughout the United States.
• Sponsorship is NOT available for this position.
• Procurement internship positions will be in the Peoria, Illinois area.
• This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Benefits

• Accrued paid time off (PTO)
• Paid holidays
• Paid volunteer day
• Housing stipend
• Relocation assistance
• Medical coverage
• Voluntary benefits

Pay and Hours

Summary pay range: $22.50 – $40.25 per hour.

An intern's hourly rate is based on the major/degree being pursued and the number of completed academic hours achieved before the start of the internship.

Posting Dates

June 30, 2026 – December 30, 2026

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

Equal Opportunity

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