Quality Engineer

Caterpillar Inc.; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 89,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k)

HSA

FSAs

Career development

Paid time off

Job summary

Caterpillar's Lafayette Engine Center seeks a Quality Engineer to support the company's quality strategy, focusing on prevention or real-time investigation for robust, capable processes and successful launches.

The role emphasizes APQP and NPI frameworks, cross-functional execution, cost of errors awareness, and leading quality leadership across new products and capital programs.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience required.
• Knowledge of quality systems and processes.
• Ability to collaborate across teams.

Responsibilities

• Work in a team environment to develop and implement best practices that emphasize defect prevention, reduction in variation and waste and provide for continuous improvements in meeting all customer requirements.
• Conducting measurement systems analysis; gathering, analyzing, and communicating non-conformance data.
• Analyzing non-conformance data and maintaining quality system documentation.
• Participating in and offering technical support to internal and external audits; following up response of corrective action from audit.

Skills

Defect prevention

Measurement systems analysis

Non-conformance analysis

Audits support

Collaboration

Problem solving

Project management

Quality management systems

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Description

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

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.

About LPSD

The Large Power Systems Division (LPSD) is part of Caterpillar's Power & Energy segment. Through this global organization, Caterpillar designs and manufactures large (greater than 18 liters) diesel and natural gas engines, powertrains and key engine systems. LPSD products and solutions support customers across power generation, industrial, marine, oil & gas, rail, services and Cat® machine applications worldwide.

LPSD teams work across regions and functions to deliver safe, reliable and compliant solutions that help solve our customers' toughest challenges

Summary

Quality Engineers at the Lafayette Engine Center support Caterpillar's quality strategy in one of two ways, as a proactive engineer focusing on preventing issues before they occur or as an engineer who investigates in real time when events happen.

Engineers focusing on preventative measures are responsible for planning, deploying, and sustaining quality into products and processes using Caterpillar's Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and New Product Introduction (NPI) frameworks. They are accountable for quality leadership across new products and new capital programs, from concept through production validation and launch.

Engineers focusing on reacting in real time, lead formal corrective action investigations and problem-solving projects. These engineers are integral to keeping up our operations and ensuring a quality product.

The Quality Engineering role emphasizes prevention-based quality fundamentals, front-end risk identification, and cross-functional execution to ensure robust, capable processes and successful launches.

What You Will Do

• Work in a team environment to develop and implement best practices that emphasize defect prevention, reduction in variation and waste and provide for continuous improvements in meeting all customer requirements.
• Conducting measurement systems analysis; gathering, analyzing, and communicating non-conformance data.
• Analyzing non-conformance data and maintaining quality system documentation.
• Participating in and offering technical support to internal and external audits; following up response of corrective action from audit.

Degree Requirement

Degree or equivalent experience desired

What You Will Have

Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.

Level Working Knowledge

• Accurately gauges the impact and cost of errors, omissions, and oversights.
• Utilizes specific approaches and tools for checking and cross-checking outputs.
• Processes limited amounts of detailed information with good accuracy.
• Learns from mistakes and applies lessons learned.
• Develops and uses checklists to ensure that information goes out error-free.

Collaborating

• Demonstrates experience participating in productive collaborative processes.
• Under guidance, initiates collaborative meetings.
• Assists in communicating shared goals with diverse groups and parties.
• Helps promote collaboration across generations, functions, regions, and levels.
• Helps solve business problems and meet business goals through collaborative processes.

Decision Making and Critical Thinking

Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

Level Basic Understanding

• Explains characteristics and steps in an effective decision-making process.
• Identifies issues and communicates with others when a decision needs to be made.
• Names decision makers in own environment and cites examples of past decisions.
• Describes types of decisions incumbent may and may not make in own job or function.

Flexibility and Adaptability

Knowledge of successful approaches and techniques for dealing with change; ability to adapt to a changing environment and be comfortable with change.

Level Basic Understanding

• Explains the perspective that change is inevitable.
• Seeks value in new ways of doing things.
• Easily copes with day-to-day frustrations, adversities and uncertainties.
• Provides examples of flexible and inflexible behavior in the face of change.

Problem Solving

Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

Level Working Knowledge

• Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives.
• Examines a specific problem and understands the perspective of each involved stakeholder.
• Develops alternative techniques for assessing accuracy and relevance of information.
• Helps to analyze risks and benefits of alternative approaches and obtain decision on resolution.
• Uses fact-finding techniques and diagnostic tools to identify problems.

Project Management

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.

Level Basic Understanding

• Identifies project management tools and requirements within own function.
• Describes the key objectives, phases and deliverables of a current project.
• Explains the concepts of phase, activity, task, and deliverable.
• Gives examples of critical paths in projects.

Quality Management System (QMS)

Knowledge of Quality Management System's (QMS) functions, features, and capabilities; ability to design, implement, test, and maintain Quality Management Systems to consistently meet customer requirements and regulatory compliances.

Level Working Knowledge

• Adheres to the process, requirements, and documentation associated with QMS.
• Contributes to the development of business case analysis for a new QMS functionality in the system.
• Explains and analyzes quality indicators and metrics relevant to one's business unit or function.
• Monitors key interfaces and criticalities related to QMS.
• Reviews various QMS products and service providers available in the market and lists their applications.

Summary Pay Range

$89,210.00 - $133,810.00

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

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

August 17, 2026 - August 27, 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.