FCAW Welding Instructor / Trainer

Caterpillar Brazil; South Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 81,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Health benefits

401(k) savings plan

Tuition reimbursement

Disability benefits

Parental leave

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a FCAW Welding Instructor/Trainer for 1st shift in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The role combines hands-on welding with people development to improve quality, safety, and production performance.

The ideal candidate has FCAW experience, teaching or training credentials (AWS CWE or similar), and the ability to assess skills, create lessons, and drive continuous improvement on the shop floor.

Qualifications

• Problem solving to resolve organizational or process issues.
• Cross-functional collaboration with ops, leadership and HR partners.
• Assess skill gaps and identify learning priorities.
• Execute daily training activities and document processes.
• Design practical training solutions and improve workforce capability.
• Measure training effectiveness and continuously improve outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Deliver hands-on training for new hires and existing employees on welding skills and quality standards.
• Assess welding levels, identify gaps, and develop targeted plans.
• Evaluate weld quality and coach to improve outcomes.
• Collaborate with lead welders and supervisors to align training with production needs.
• Refine training programs and evaluation methods for continuous improvement.
• Track training progress and maintain accurate records.

Skills

Problem Solving

Collaborating

Training Needs Analysis

Training Operations

Training Solution Development

Training Evaluation

Job description

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. FCAW Welding Instructor / Trainer - 1st Shift (7am to 3pm) Location: South Milwaukee, Wisconsin Pay Range: $81,370 - $122,060 Benefits: Effective Day One Relocation: Assistance is Available Work Authorization Sponsorship: Not Available

Job Summary We’re looking for a welding mentor, coach, and instructor who is passionate about developing the next generation of FCAW welders. The ideal candidate enjoys teaching as much as welding and takes pride in helping others improve their skills, confidence, and quality performance. This position is approximately 50% welding expertise and 50% people development. The most successful trainers are patient coaches who enjoy helping others learn and grow. You will partner closely with operations leadership, lead welders, and Talent Acquisition to assess skills, support hiring decisions, and improve training effectiveness. This is a high-impact, visible role that directly influences quality, safety, and operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver hands‑on training for new hires and current employees, focusing on production welding skills, techniques, and quality standards
• Assess welding skill levels, identify gaps, and develop targeted training plans to improve performance
• Evaluate weld quality and defects, providing coaching and corrective guidance to improve outcomes
• Collaborate with lead welders, supervisors, and cross‑functional partners to align training with production needs
• Support continuous improvement by refining training programs, processes, and evaluation methods
• Track and document training progress, ensuring accuracy of records and data for operational use
• Contribute to a safe, efficient, and high‑quality shop environment through consistent training and best practices

Who Will Thrive in This Role

You may be a fit if you:

• Enjoy teaching and coaching others
• Are patient and approachable when working with new welders
• Take pride in seeing others succeed
• Can explain welding concepts in multiple ways
• Naturally build trust and credibility on the shop floor
• Are comfortable giving constructive feedback

Experience That Will Make You Stand Out

• Experience teaching, training, mentoring, or developing welders in an industrial, educational, apprenticeship, military, or union environment
• Hands‑on FCAW training experience
• Experience teaching FCAW in a school, apprenticeship, union, military, or manufacturing environment
• AWS Certified Welding Educator (CWE) or similar training credentials
• Experience evaluating weld tests and coaching individuals through skill development
• Experience creating training materials, lesson plans, or qualification programs

Required Skills

• Problem Solving: Ability to recognize, anticipate, and resolve organizational, operational, or process‑related issues; applies structured problem‑solving approaches in diverse situations.
• Collaborating: Ability to work effectively with cross‑functional teams, including operations, leadership, and HR partners, in a constructive and team‑oriented manner.
• Training Needs Analysis: Ability to assess skill gaps and identify learning priorities required for both individual and organizational performance.
• Training Operations: Understanding of training processes and ability to execute daily training activities, programs, and documentation to ensure effective delivery.
• Training Solution Development: Ability to design and implement practical training solutions that address identified needs and improve workforce capability.
• Training Evaluation: Ability to assess the effectiveness of training programs using appropriate tools, metrics, and feedback, and continuously improve outcomes.

Benefits: Effective Day One Relocation: Assistance is Available Work Authorization Sponsorship: Not Available

Summary

Summary Pay Range: $81,370.00 - $122,060.00 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.

• 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

Posting Dates: September 25, 2026 - October 5, 2026

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.

Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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.