Director of Manufacturing Engineering – Sanford Advanced Manufacturing

Caterpillar Inc.•Sanford, NC

1d•$189,080 - $283,630•Onsite

About The Position

Caterpillar is seeking a Director of Manufacturing Engineering to lead manufacturing engineering strategy for its new advanced manufacturing operation in Sanford, North Carolina. The role will help establish the facility from the ground up, shaping its digital, automated and connected manufacturing capabilities, systems, organization, technical standards and operating discipline. The Director will lead facility development and equipment commissioning through production ramp-up, go-live and stable operations. The role focuses significantly on smart manufacturing, including automation, robotics, connected equipment, manufacturing execution systems, digital work processes, real-time performance data and advanced material movement. It will also transform traditional manufacturing processes into a faster, more responsive operating model while maintaining safety, quality and process control. The position works across operations, product engineering, quality, supply chain, facilities, safety, finance, information technology, equipment suppliers and other external partners. It includes developing the manufacturing engineering organization and establishing scalable processes and capabilities to support the new operation over the long term.

Requirements

Ability to create long-term manufacturing strategies aligned with growth, operational excellence and competitive advantage.
Ability to lead organizational change, manufacturing modernization and adoption of new technologies and processes.
Ability to present evidence-based recommendations, build alignment and influence decisions across functions and leadership levels.
Knowledge of robotics, industrial automation, manufacturing execution systems, machine connectivity, smart factory platforms, equipment data, digital work instructions and connected manufacturing solutions.
Ability to reduce end-to-end build time through process simplification, constraint elimination, line balancing, automation and data-driven continuous improvement while maintaining safety, quality and process control.
Ability to build productive relationships across operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, facilities, safety, finance, information technology and external partners.
Ability to develop manufacturing-readiness plans, lead commissioning, support production ramp-up and transition capabilities into stable operations.
Extensive leadership experience in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, industrial engineering, plant engineering, advanced manufacturing or a related technical function.
Experience developing and implementing manufacturing processes, production systems, equipment, machinery, tooling and automation.
Experience building, leading and developing technical teams through significant growth or change.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
Experience leading advanced manufacturing startups, major expansions and large-scale transformations from facility design and construction through production launch, ramp-up, stabilization and ongoing operations.
Experience building and leading manufacturing engineering organizations, establishing technical standards, operating systems, workforce capability and operational discipline to sustain long-term performance.
Experience directing manufacturing readiness and industrialization, including plant layout, material flow, equipment qualification, process validation, workforce readiness, new product introduction and production scale-up.
Experience deploying automation and smart manufacturing solutions and partnering across operations, engineering, quality, supply chain and technology teams to deliver scalable manufacturing improvements and capital investments.

Responsibilities

Lead manufacturing engineering for development of a new advanced manufacturing facility through go-live.
Lead deployment of smart manufacturing capabilities and digital manufacturing standards, including robotics, industrial automation, connected equipment, digital work instructions, manufacturing execution systems, smart factory platforms, automated inspection, data visibility and advanced material movement solutions.
Reduce production build times by identifying constraints, redesigning manufacturing processes, and deploying automation, connected equipment and advanced material-flow solutions.
Direct equipment design reviews, supplier technical reviews, installation planning, equipment acceptance, process qualification, startup issue resolution and complex engineering projects.
Establish and execute manufacturing engineering strategy for production processes, plant layout, material flow, tooling, equipment, automation, machine connectivity, digital manufacturing systems and technical support infrastructure.
Develop and manage an integrated manufacturing-readiness plan covering facility requirements, equipment procurement, installation, commissioning, process validation, workforce readiness and production launch.
Build and develop an inclusive, high-performing manufacturing engineering organization with the technical capability, operating discipline and leadership depth needed for startup and go-live.
Partner with operations, product engineering, quality, supply chain, facilities, safety, finance, information technology, equipment suppliers and external partners to achieve facility, equipment and production-readiness milestones.
Establish standard work, process controls, engineering governance, operating procedures and performance measures that support safe, repeatable and scalable manufacturing.
Use manufacturing, process, equipment, quality, yield, runtime, capacity and cost data to improve flow, eliminate waste, increase process capability and implement sustainable improvements.
Translate demand forecasts and product plans into short- and long-term capacity, resource, technology and capital requirements.
Guide resolution of technically challenging manufacturing problems and ensure durable corrective actions are implemented.
Present project status, investment recommendations, technical risks, tradeoffs and mitigation plans to senior leaders and other decision-makers.