Manufacturing Engineer - Assembly

Caterpillar Inc.; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 98,000 - 146,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid time off

401(k) savings

HSA

Flexible Spending Accounts

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in Decatur, IL is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to support high‑volume heavy equipment production. You will own process development, shop floor problem solving, and continuous improvement with operations, quality, and supply chain teams.

The role focuses on translating production requirements into capable processes while ensuring safety and environmental compliance. This is an individual contributor role with meaningful impact on daily production and long‑term excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience applying engineering principles to improve manufacturing processes.
• Understanding of assembly processes and production systems.
• Ability to design and improve layouts, tooling, and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Provide manufacturing engineering expertise to support safe, high-quality production.
• Design, implement, and improve processes, layouts, tooling, and equipment.
• Identify root causes and drive data‑driven improvements.
• Support continuous improvement on safety, quality, throughput, and waste reduction.
• Develop standard work, routings, and process documentation.
• Collaborate with operations and cross‑functional teams on changes.

Skills

Manufacturing Engineering

Manufacturing Processes

Lean Manufacturing

Problem Solving

Decision Making & Critical Thinking

Project Management

Communication Skills

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

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.

Manufacturing Engineer – Assembly

Location: Decatur, IL Travel: Up to 5% Relocation Assistance: Available Visa Sponsorship: Not Available

Job Summary

As a Manufacturing Engineer at Caterpillar’s Decatur, Illinois facility, you will provide hands‑on manufacturing engineering support to improve safety, quality, velocity, and cost across high‑volume, heavy‑equipment manufacturing operations. This role focuses on process ownership, shop‑floor problem solving, and continuous improvement, working closely with operations, quality, supply chain, and other engineering teams. You will translate production requirements into capable manufacturing processes while ensuring compliance with safety and environmental standards. This is an individual contributor role with significant impact on daily production performance and long‑term operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide manufacturing engineering expertise to support safe, high‑quality, and cost‑effective production.
• Design, implement, and improve manufacturing processes, layouts, tooling, and equipment.
• Identify and resolve manufacturing issues using structured problem‑solving methods and data‑driven analysis.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, throughput, ergonomics, and waste reduction.
• Develop and maintain standard work, work instructions, routings, and process documentation.
• Monitor equipment and process capability; recommend improvements to enhance reliability and performance.
• Partner with operations and support teams to implement process changes and corrective actions.
• Support manufacturing readiness for new products, design changes, and capacity increases.
• Participate in capital and expense projects, including justification, implementation, and validation.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and environmental requirements in all manufacturing activities.

Required Skills

• Manufacturing Engineering: Ability to apply engineering principles to improve manufacturing processes and production systems.
• Manufacturing Processes: Understanding of assembly processes.
• Lean Manufacturing: Ability to apply lean principles to improve flow, eliminate waste, and improve productivity.
• Problem Solving: Structured approach to identifying root causes and implementing sustainable corrective actions.
• Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Ability to analyze data, assess risk, and make sound engineering decisions.
• Project Management: Ability to plan, execute, and track engineering work and improvement activities.
• Communication Skills: Ability to collaborate effectively with operators, leaders, and cross‑functional teams.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in heavy manufacturing, large equipment, or high‑volume industrial environments.
• Exposure to automation, tooling design, or equipment integration.
• Experience developing standard work, control plans, or process documentation.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement tools such as value stream mapping, root cause analysis, and mistake‑proofing.
• Strong data skills using common engineering and productivity tools.

Summary Pay Range

$97,530.00 - $146,290.00

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.

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

Posting Dates

September 11, 2026 - September 17, 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.