Sr. Prin. Supplier Technical Engineer

Solar Turbines; Michigan; On-site; USD 128,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plans

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in Whitehall, Michigan is seeking a Supplier Technical Engineer to provide on-site technical support, review drawings, and drive supplier quality improvements to boost throughput.

You will collaborate with Quality, Design, Supply Chain and Operations, interpret engineering specs, and act as the primary technical liaison with the supplier. Relocation is available and five days on-site are required, with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent technical field.
• Experience in manufacturing engineering, supplier quality, production engineering.
• Investment casting experience.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering specifications.
• Experience creating material documents to submit to the Material Review Board (MRB)
• Experience in documenting design requirement deviations
• Understanding of Inspection processes (Basic fixtures and gauges, 3D Scan process familiarity, CMM reports, Digital comparator, ANSI Y14.5)

Responsibilities

• Review yield issues and collaborate with the supplier to improve performance.
• Partner with Quality Engineering, Design Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations.
• Evaluate manufacturing processes, tooling, and process controls for compliance with specifications.
• Review drawings, models, and technical requirements with suppliers to resolve ambiguity and ensure manufacturability.
• Provide on-site technical support while representing Solar’s interests at the supplier.
• Support MRB assessments and supplier dispositions.
• Validate effectiveness of corrective action activities.

Skills

Investment casting

Read engineering specifications

Material Review Board documentation

Deviations documentation

Inspection processes understanding

Collaboration across functions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent technical field

Tools

3D Scan process

CMM report & understanding

ANSI Y14.5

Digital comparator

Fixtures & gauges

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

Supply Chain and Logistics

Summary

The Supplier Technical Engineer (STE) is responsible for providing on‑site technical support, product compliance and increase throughput at our critical supplier. This position will be located on site at our supplier in Whitehall, Michigan. This critical role will review drawings, evaluate part compliance and work with Solar’s Material Review Board (MRB) to provide real time dispositions. The STE will serve as the primary technical liaison between the supplier and Solar Turbines.

Responsibilities include but not limited to

• Review yield issues and collaborate with the supplier to improve performance.


• Partner closely with Quality Engineering, Design Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations.


• Evaluate manufacturing processes, tooling, and process controls to ensure compliance with engineering specifications.


• Review drawings, models, and technical requirements with suppliers to resolve ambiguity and ensure manufacturability.


• Provide on‑site technical support while representing Solar’s interests at the supplier.


• Support Material Review Board (MRB) assessments and supplier‑side dispositions.


• Validate effectiveness of corrective action activities.


• Looks for and considers non‑verbal cues from individuals and groups.

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent technical field. (Mechanical Engineering preferred)


• Experience in manufacturing engineering, supplier quality, production engineering.


• Investment casting experience


• Ability to read and interpret engineering specifications


• Experience creating material documents to submit to the Material Review Board (MRB) team.


• Experience in documenting design requirement deviations


• Understanding of Inspection processes
  
  
  
  • Basic fixtures and gages
  
  
  • 3D Scan process familiarity
  
  
  • CMM Report & understanding
  
  
  • Digital comparator
  
  
  • ANSI Y14.5
  
  
  
  

Preferred Experience

• Internally cooled gas turbine cast airfoil design or manufacturing (casting or post cast) experience


• Non-conforming material evaluation & disposition experience


• Machining experience with basic understanding of required post casting operations to make a finished machined part.


• Ability to document
  
  
  
  • Design requirement deviations
  
  
  • PPAP qualification packages
  
  
  • Continuous Improvement; Lean / six sigma black or green belt experiences
  
  
  • Ability to collaborate cross functionally.
  
  
  
  

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

$128,470.00 - $192,710.00

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.

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates August 11, 2026 - September 14, 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.