Quality Manager- 3rd Shift

Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 81,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plans

Career development

Tuition reimbursement

Incentive bonus

Job summary

The Lafayette Engine Center has a 3rd shift Quality Manager opening to oversee the administration and continual improvement of quality management systems.

You will lead a team of 10–15 quality professionals, driving safety culture, lean manufacturing initiatives, and ensuring Caterpillar quality standards across production. This role requires strong coaching, problem solving, and collaboration across functions.

Qualifications

• Strong accuracy and attention to detail required.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles desired.
• Experience leading quality teams in a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a team of 10–15 Quality Team Leads, Technicians, and Auditors.
• Drive safety culture and maintain a compliant, safe work environment.
• Collaborate with production leadership to set workload priorities and staffing.
• Implement continuous improvement to reduce waste and improve quality.
• Support Built-in Quality, 5S, Six Sigma, and CQMS/ISO standards.

Skills

Team leadership

Safety culture

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Effective communication

Planning & organizing

Decision making

Quality management systems

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Associate degree an advantage

Certifications (ASQ, SME)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Workday timekeeping

Job description

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.

Quality Manager

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 function to deliver safe, reliable and compliant solutions that help solve our customers’ toughest challenges.

About LEC (Lafayette Engine Center)

The Lafayette Engine Center (LEC) manufactures the Cat 3500, Cat 3600 and C175 engines helping Caterpillar become the world’s leading manufacturer of off‑highway diesel and natural gas engines.

The units built at LEC power mining trucks carrying ore to be processed, tugboats guiding ships to harbor, drill rigs tapping oil and gas reserves and generators bringing electricity to communities, hospitals and data centers

Job Summary

The Lafayette Engine center has a 3rd shift Quality Manager opening. This role oversees the administration and continual improvement of quality management systems.

What you will do

• Lead and supervise a team of 10-15 Quality Team Leads, Quality Technicians, and Quality Gate Auditors, providing clear direction to achieve safety, quality, and production objectives.
• Champion a strong safety culture by identifying and eliminating unsafe conditions while maintaining a safe, clean, and compliant work environment.
• Determine processing requirements and ensure appropriate fixtures, tooling, and manufacturing methods are available to meet production schedules and operational demands.
• Collaborate daily with production leadership to establish workload priorities, staffing requirements, and work sequencing.
• Ensure effective workforce training, development, and utilization to maximize team performance and operational efficiency.
• Manage staffing needs, including overtime planning and resource allocation to support business priorities.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide coaching and development opportunities, and administer corrective actions when required.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by optimizing processes, improving efficiency, reducing waste, and eliminating non-value-added activities.
• Support and integrate Caterpillar's Built-in Quality (BIQ), Small Business Teams (SBT), Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Six Sigma, and CQMS/ISO standards into daily operations.
• Ensure product quality and compliance with Caterpillar Quality Management System requirements, manufacturing control plans, Job Instruction Sheets (JIS), and standard work procedures.
• Oversee employee development, attendance management, Workday timekeeping, workforce planning, work assignments, and schedule adherence.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment through strong communication, interpersonal, and team-building skills.
• Utilize strong mechanical aptitude and problem- solving abilities to support manufacturing quality and operational excellence.
• Demonstrate self-motivation, initiative, and the ability to make sound decisions with minimal supervision.
• Promote a customer-focused culture through effective leadership, motivation, and accountability.
• Maintain proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and other business systems.
• Provide leadership support across multiple shifts, including 2nd and 3rd shift operations, while reporting to the 1st Shift Quality Manager.
• Partner with cross-functional teams including Supplier Quality, Certification Coordinators, and other Quality organizations to support business objectives.
• Maintain flexibility to support overtime, alternative shifts, and changing business requirements as needed.

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.

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 judgement.

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.

Effective Communications:

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 behaviours.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Describes non-verbal behaviours that influence the interpretation of the message.
• Cites examples of effective and ineffective communications.
• Explains the importance of effective business communication.
• Speaks/writes using correct language, mechanics, and gestures.

Lean Manufacturing:

Knowledge of the philosophy, principles and implementation approaches of lean manufacturing; ability to integrate and implement lean manufacturing philosophy into existing production and management processes.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Cites examples of benefits and risks associated with implementing lean principles.
• Describes basic tools for observing existing processes and identifying waste.
• Cites industry or company examples of successful and unsuccessful lean implementations.
• Identifies key lean principles and highlights of the lean manufacturing process.

Performance Management:

Knowledge of successful performance management techniques; ability to apply organization's performance management system, practices, and tools to developing and improving individual, team, and organizational performance.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Demonstrates an understanding of performance management concepts.
• Describes organization's performance management process.
• Explains organization's core performance factors and ratings.
• Participates in own performance review or performance checkpoint session.

Planning and Organizing:

Knowledge of the process of planning and arranging tasks and resources; ability to plan and organize both time and resources to get things completed while structuring and maintaining work in a systematic and highly methodical way.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Seeks help to modify priorities as new information surfaces or conditions change.
• Demonstrates the ability to estimate the time and resources required to complete tasks.
• Identifies own key assignments, schedules, and process steps.
• Applies the concept of ‘critical path’ in order to complete work in a timely manner and keep larger tasks on track.

Problem Solving:

Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organisational, 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.

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 Basic Understanding:

• Explains the main features, functions, and capabilities of QMS.
• Lists the major market players/vendors of QMS.
• Outlines the benefits of using automated and manual QMS.
• Understands the role of QMS in implementing a formalised system for documenting manufacturing processes and procedures to meet customer requirements and regulatory compliances.

What will put you ahead:

• High School Diploma, and/or associate’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Achieved a professional certification (ASQ, SME, etc.)
• Experience working within an extended value stream methodology with cross departmental collaboration amongst operations, quality, manufacturing engineering, design engineering, supply chain & maintenance
• Experience with 3500, 3600, and/or C175 Engines and component manufacturing.
• Experience in a team Lead, certification coordinator, quality audit gates, or supervisory role in machine shop operations, or operations quality.
• Must demonstrate good interpersonal skills, be able to communicate with others, work as a part of a team and ability to work with a diverse group of employees and customers’
• Have a mechanical aptitude
• Should possess effective motivational skills, a high degree of initiative and a strong customer focus
• Candidate must attach a resume

This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties, and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of “essential job functions” as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Summary Pay Range:

$81,370.00 - $122,060.00

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:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of 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.

Posting Dates:

September 28, 2026 - October 5, 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.