Heat Treat Process Engineer

Caterpillar Inc.; East Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 89,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Paid time off plan

401(k) savings plan

Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Career development

Incentive bonus

Relocation assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in East Peoria, IL is seeking a seasoned heat treat engineer to manage direct hardening, tempering, and stress relief processes in Building LL. You will collaborate with operations and quality, develop standard work and PFMEAs, and lead PPAP activities to ensure equipment uptime and safety.

Required: Bachelor's in Engineering, 5+ years of manufacturing support, and experience with heat treat controls, SAP, PPAP, and OEE metrics. Relocation offered; travel up to 15%.

Qualifications

• Accuracy and attention to detail with high precision tasks.
• Analytical thinking and root-cause problem solving.
• Decision making with informed judgments.
• Effective communications across teams and stakeholders.
• Technical excellence in heat treat technologies.
• Project management to plan and control initiatives.
• Product testing design and execution.
• Troubleshooting in manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Ensure Safety via Standard Work, Safe Job Procedures, SFMEA analysis, Continuous Improvement and Safety Walks.
• Ensure Quality via CP, PFMEA, RCCA, Product Deviations, Process Audits and Operator Training.
• Ensure Velocity via OEE Analysis, Capacity Planning and Collaboration with Maintenance teams.
• Improve Cost via Value Add / Engineering Projects and Process Improvements.

Skills

Accuracy & Detail

Analytical Thinking

Decision Making

Effective Communications

Technical Excellence

Project Management

Product Testing

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

OneNote

Teams

Job description

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.

Career Area

Engineering

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.

Role Definition

This position will be responsible for managing the heat treat processes utilized in Building LL located in East Peoria, IL. These technologies include direct hardening, tempering and stress relief. The candidate will work closely with the operations and quality teams to ensure the area is safe and meets PQVC requirements. The individual must have experience creating standard work, control plans, PFMEAs, SFMEAs, equipment procedures and performing near miss investigations and corrective actions. The candidate will also manage new product introduction, metallurgical testing and PPAP documentation within their scope of influence. Individuals must be able to work with shop floor personnel and 3rd party maintenance suppliers to maximize equipment performance and uptime.

What You Will Do

• Ensure Safety via Standard Work, Safe Job Procedures, SFMEA analysis, Continuous Improvement and Safety Walks.
• Ensure Quality via CP, PFMEA, RCCA, Product Deviations, Process Audits and Operator Training.
• Ensure Velocity via OEE Analysis, Capacity Planning and Collaboration with Maintenance teams.
• Improve Cost via Value Add / Engineering Projects and Process Improvements.

Degree Requirement

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology or equivalent experience.

What You Must Have (skill Descriptors)

• Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Extensive understanding of the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.
• Analytical Thinking: Extensive knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems
• Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Extensive knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment
• Effective Communications: Extensive understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
• Technical Excellence: Extensive knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.
• Project Management: Extensive knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.
• Product Testing: Extensive knowledge of product testing approaches, techniques and tools; ability to design, plan and execute testing strategies and tactics to ensure product quality at all stages of manufacturing.
• Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Extensive knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing environment.

Top Candidates will also have

• 5+ years of Manufacturing Support
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, One Note, Teams
• Experience with standard work, control plans and PFMEAs.
• Experience with continuous improvement, safety investigations and root cause analysis.
• Experience with PPAP documentation.
• Experience calculating OEE and capacity.
• Strong planning, communication, problem solving and prioritization skills.
• Ferrous Metallurgy experience.
• Knowledge of heat treat process controls (atmosphere control, heating time/rate, quench media controls, scan rate, etc).
• Experience with SAP software.
• Knowledge of Caterpillar part prints and specifications.

Additional Information

• This position will close at 11:59 p.m. on 08/25/2026.
• This position can be located will be located onsite 5 days a week in East Peoria, IL (Building LL). Minimal coverage for East Peoria, IL (Building BB)
• Domestic relocation is available.
• VISA Sponsorship is NOT available.
• Travel requirements will be up to 15%.

Final details

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status. #MilitaryMonday #Letsdothework #caterpillarinc #Iamcaterpillar

Summary Pay Range

$89,210.00 - $133,810.00

Benefits

• 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

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates

August 20, 2026 - August 25, 2026

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

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

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