Global Manufacturing Project Lead: Weld & Automation

Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 113,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plans

Health Savings Account

Tuition Reimbursement

Career Development

Incentive bonus

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in Decatur, IL is seeking a Manufacturing Project Engineer to lead global process commonality for RFT Heavy Structures, standardizing fabrication, welding, machining, and inspection across facilities.

You will drive DFM, APQP, and NPI readiness, manage capital projects, mentor engineers, and apply Lean and digital manufacturing tools to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Welding Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification or equivalent welding qualification.
• Experience with robotic welding, automation technologies, and advanced manufacturing systems.
• Experience developing and implementing global manufacturing standards in a multinational organization.
• Experience leveraging manufacturing data analytics, digital work instructions, manufacturing execution systems, and offline programming solutions to drive operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead global manufacturing process commonality strategy for RFT Heavy Structures across facilities.
• Advise design engineers on manufacturability and DFM-driven improvements.
• Drive global process standardization for fabrication, welding, machining, assembly, and inspection.
• Lead capital investment and manufacturing improvement projects with scope, budgets, schedules, risks.
• Develop and optimize processes for large welded structural assemblies, including tooling and automation.
• Apply Lean and Operational Excellence to reduce variation and bottlenecks.
• Partner with engineering and cross-functional teams for DFM, APQP, and NPI readiness.
• Mentor engineers and share best practices to build global manufacturing capabilities.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering leadership

Project management

Strategic problem solving

Global collaboration

Manufacturing technology & automation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)

Tools

CAD software

Robotics automation

Manufacturing execution systems

Offline programming

Job description

Caterpillar Inc. in Decatur, IL is seeking a Manufacturing Project Engineer to lead global process commonality for RFT Heavy Structures, standardizing fabrication, welding, machining, and inspection across facilities.

You will drive DFM, APQP, and NPI readiness, manage capital projects, mentor engineers, and apply Lean and digital manufacturing tools to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.