Fabrications Manufacturing Engineer

Caterpillar Inc.•Athens, GA

12d•$81,370 - $122,060•Onsite

About The Position

This role serves as a technical owner for assigned fabrication areas and is responsible for routing definition, process and tooling design and maintenance, robotic welding and CNC-related processes, root cause corrective action (RCCA), and continuous process optimization to ensure safe, capable, and cost-effective production. The Manufacturing Engineer I – Fabrication Operations will work independently and on cross-functional teams to maintain, sustain, and improve fabrication manufacturing processes supporting construction equipment structures for Small Track-Type Tractors.

Requirements

Extensive experience in Decision Making and Critical Thinking with the ability to evaluate complex shop-floor problems and implement effective solutions.
Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and the ability to apply them within fabrication and welding operations.
Extensive experience with Manufacturing and Fabrication Processes, including the ability to plan, execute, sustain, and improve end-to-end fabrication operations.
Working knowledge of manufacturing Problem Management Processes with demonstrated experience leading structured RCCA to closure.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Welding Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline.
Coursework, project, internship, co-op, or work experience involving manufacturing processes such as cutting, forming, bending, machining, welding, assembly, material flow, or quality control.
Documented experience with CAD tools such as Creo, SolidWorks, Inventor, or similar design software.
Documented manufacturing, factory, shop-floor, lab, internship, co-op, capstone, military, trade, or work experience involving process improvement, production support, or hands-on problem solving.
Documented use of structured problem-solving methods such as 5-Why, fishbone diagrams, A3 thinking, RCCA, Lean tools, process improvement projects, or engineering project analysis.
Documented coursework, project, internship, or work experience interpreting engineering drawings, GD&T, weld symbols, tolerances, or manufacturability requirements.
Hands-on experience with welding processes.
Demonstrated ability to collect and analyze relevant data and translate it into measurable results.
Completed coursework, projects, internships, or work experience involving robotic welding, automation, CNC equipment, manufacturing technology, or troubleshooting and optimization methods.
Hands-on involvement in safety hazard recognition and safety process improvements.

Responsibilities

Own and maintain fabrication manufacturing processes, routings, work instructions, and labor standards within ERP systems (SAP preferred).
Define and maintain process flow, operation sequencing, and manufacturing methods from first operation through final fabrication.
Design, release, and sustain production tooling, weld fixtures, jigs, and hard tooling supporting fabrication and robotic welding processes.
Partner with tool rooms and suppliers to develop, debug, and improve tooling solutions throughout the tooling lifecycle.
Lead root cause corrective action (RCCA) activities for safety, quality, delivery, and cost issues using structured problem-solving methods (e.g., 5-Why, Fishbone, A3).
Implement and validate corrective actions and ensure long-term effectiveness and sustainability.
Develop and validate process cycle times through time studies and capacity analysis.
Analyze OEE, scrap, rework, dimensional, and process capability data to identify constraints and optimization opportunities.
Lead process optimization efforts focused on throughput, weld quality, automation utilization, ergonomics, and cost reduction.
Troubleshoot day-to-day fabrication process issues and provide cross-shift production support as needed.
Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities, ensuring fabrication readiness through tooling, routings, capacity, and risk assessment.
Review engineering drawings, change notices, and concepts for manufacturability and fabrication risk.
Collaborate with Operations, Quality, and Product Engineering to improve product quality and manufacturing robustness.