Manufacturing Engineer

Caterpillar•Sanford, IL

33d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Manufacturing Engineer within the ICD Modern Manufacturing Transformation (MMT) team , you will help shape and deploy modern manufacturing capabilities that drive safety, quality, cost, and productivity across a global manufacturing network. You will provide technical expertise to design, optimize, and standardize manufacturing processes and systems, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental requirements while enabling scalable, future‑ready solutions. In this role, you will partner closely with manufacturing facilities, engineering, and leadership to develop, pilot, and replicate advanced manufacturing technologies and best practices. Serving as a subject matter expert in manufacturing transformation, you’ll work both independently and collaboratively to solve complex problems, drive continuous improvement, and deliver measurable impact at an enterprise level. This is an opportunity to be at the forefront of modern manufacturing—connecting digital, automation, and process excellence to transform how work gets done across ICD.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline, with experience or coursework in IIoT, digitalization, and automation.
Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Use creative problem‑solving skills to address operational challenges related to safety, ergonomics, quality, cost, and throughput using data‑driven methodologies such as Six Sigma, DOE, SPC, and OEE .
Apply continuous improvement tools (e.g. Lean Manufacturing ) to eliminate waste and improve performance.
Identify root causes and lead corrective actions for safety, quality, velocity, and cost opportunities using analytics and visualization tools such as Power BI .
Partner closely with Value Stream teams to reduce defects and improve fabrication, machining, and robotic processes .
Manufacturing Processes: Develop and implement shop‑floor processes for machining centers, welding centers, and robotic systems , including tooling, work instructions, routings, BOMs, standard work, control plans, and FMEAs, leveraging hands-on machining and programming experience .
Evaluate and support manufacturing systems and equipment, including IIoT connectivity, digital twins (Omniverse), and condition monitoring solutions (e.g., deviceWISE, Kepware, MTConnect)
Assess production readiness of new equipment and automation, including controls and integration ( PLC , NX, Fanuc, SCADA, robotics, sensors, servos, DAQ), and recommend improvements as needed.
Design and implement assembly processes aligned with Caterpillar standard manufacturing practices .
Engineering - MFG: Apply manufacturing engineering expertise to design and implement engineering controls and machine interlocks that mitigate high‑energy and high‑risk hazards across automated and connected manufacturing systems.
Develop clear, mistake‑proof processes that support safe and reliable operation of automated, robotic, and digitally connected equipment.
Ensure employees are properly trained and certified to safely perform standard work and operate equipment independently.

Responsibilities

Support new technologies development, ensuring designs, standards, and documentation optimized for technologies deployment.
Provide process development, technical expertise, and project management support to management and internal stakeholders.
Troubleshoot day‑to‑day manufacturing issues, monitor equipment and process reliability, and address problem areas to ensure stable operations.
Analyze and implement engineering change notices, driving required part and process updates.
Identify and implement connectivity, condition monitoring, and IIoT enhancements to complex manufacturing equipment and processes, including support for Omniverse Digital Twin initiatives .
Drive improvements in Value Stream metrics by defining and executing process improvement initiatives using APQP, Lean, and Low‑Cost Producer principles .