Director, Smart Manufacturing & Startup Ops

Caterpillar Brazil; Sanford (NC); Hybrid; USD 189,000 - 284,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision benefits

401(k) with match + HSA

Relocation support

Job summary

Caterpillar is building a new advanced manufacturing campus in Sanford, North Carolina. The Director of Manufacturing Engineering will lead the plant’s engineering strategy, oversee startup activities, and establish digital manufacturing capabilities including automation and data-driven processes.

This role partners across operations, product engineering, quality, supply chain, facilities and IT to ensure a successful go-live and sustained performance.

Qualifications

• Strategic thinking to create long-term manufacturing strategies.
• Change leadership to drive modernization and adoption of new tech.
• Experience deploying automation and smart manufacturing solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing engineering for a new advanced facility from development to go-live.
• Deploy smart manufacturing capabilities and digital standards including robotics and MES.
• Guide transition from traditional cycles to shorter build times via automation and data-driven improvements.
• Direct equipment design reviews, installation planning and startup issue resolution.
• Establish and execute manufacturing strategy, plant layout, material flow and tooling.
• Develop a readiness plan covering facility needs, procurement, commissioning and workforce readiness.
• Build an inclusive, high-performing manufacturing engineering team for startup and go-live.
• Collaborate with operations, engineering, quality, supply chain and IT to hit milestones.
• Use data to improve flow, reduce waste and sustain improvements.

Skills

Strategic Thinking

Change Leadership

Influencing & Exec Communication

Automation & Smart Manufacturing

Manufacturing Velocity & Flow

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Manufacturing Startup Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering disciplines

Job description

Caterpillar is building a new advanced manufacturing campus in Sanford, North Carolina. The Director of Manufacturing Engineering will lead the plant’s engineering strategy, oversee startup activities, and establish digital manufacturing capabilities including automation and data-driven processes.

This role partners across operations, product engineering, quality, supply chain, facilities and IT to ensure a successful go-live and sustained performance.