Quality Engineer: Defect Prevention & Continuous Improvement

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Paid time off

401(k) savings plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in East Peoria, IL seeks a Quality Engineer to perform advanced inspection and audits, ensuring conformance to quality standards.

You will collaborate with manufacturing and engineering to prevent defects, reduce variation, and strengthen quality system execution on-site. The role emphasizes disciplined quality execution, continuous improvement, and close partnership with teams to drive preventive controls and robust quality plans.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong knowledge of quality management systems (QMS) and document control.
• Experience applying root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Excellent collaboration across cross-functional teams in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Gather, analyze, trend non-conformance data for root-cause analysis.
• Maintain quality system documentation for traceability and audits.
• Support internal and external audits with corrective action follow-up.
• Partner with manufacturing and engineering to prevent quality risks.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives to reduce variation and waste.
• Set priorities and propose solutions to meet production needs.
• Lead cross-functional teams to resolve complex quality issues.
• Contribute to APQP and built-in quality programs.
• Manage disposition of non-conforming material via defect analysis.
• Develop and manage the quality plan.

Skills

QMS

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Collaboration

Decision making

Adaptability

Project management

Education

Engineering Degree

Tools

Power BI

Creo

Metrology equipment

CMM

Vision systems

3D laser scanner

Blue light scanner

Job description

Caterpillar Inc. in East Peoria, IL seeks a Quality Engineer to perform advanced inspection and audits, ensuring conformance to quality standards.

You will collaborate with manufacturing and engineering to prevent defects, reduce variation, and strengthen quality system execution on-site. The role emphasizes disciplined quality execution, continuous improvement, and close partnership with teams to drive preventive controls and robust quality plans.