Manufacturing Project Engineer

Caterpillar•Mapleton, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Caterpillar is hiring a Manufacturing Project Engineer to support process development and improvement projects at its Mapleton Foundry in Mapleton, Illinois. The role focuses on improving the safety, quality, velocity, and cost of manufacturing operations through casting simulation, tooling design, and tooling development. The foundry has more than 800 employees and requires a strong commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement. The engineer will support foundry casting and tooling projects from development through implementation, working across functions to improve casting designs, manufacturing processes, and product quality. The position is onsite five days a week and is a first-shift, Monday-through-Friday role. Domestic relocation assistance is available; visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

Working knowledge of problem-solving approaches, tools, and techniques, with the ability to recognize, anticipate, and resolve organizational, operational, or process problems in diverse situations.
Working knowledge of lean manufacturing philosophy, principles, and implementation approaches, and the ability to integrate lean practices into production and management processes.
Basic knowledge of project management strategies and tactics, including planning, organizing, monitoring, and controlling projects and efficiently using resources to achieve objectives.
Basic knowledge of manufacturing best practices and standards for improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of manufacturing products, and the ability to create and implement such practices and standards for casting processes and activities.
Basic knowledge of developing or designing metal-casting manufacturing processes and determining processes and parameters to improve functionality and costs.
Basic knowledge of metal-casting change-control processes and procedures, including identifying, evaluating, approving, monitoring, and documenting changes in production environments and processes.

Nice To Haves

Previous foundry tooling, pattern, or casting-process experience.
Experience with casting simulation, particularly MAGMA.
Experience with 3D modeling and/or CAD.
Experience supporting tooling projects involving casting design, development, and implementation.
Experience supporting NPI and/or CPI activities for cast components.
Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including using spreadsheets for production reporting, analysis, and operational decision-making.

Responsibilities

Provide technical expertise and guidance for major foundry pattern and tooling projects, partnering with internal and external suppliers to support and improve casting designs.
Use casting simulation and engineering analysis to develop and optimize casting designs and manufacturing processes.
Support implementation of New Product Introduction (NPI) and Continuous Product Improvement (CPI) activities for castings.
Collaborate with design engineering, operations, quality, manufacturing engineering, and suppliers to implement and improve casting designs.
Support tooling design, development, and implementation to meet manufacturing and product requirements.
Provide technical guidance to manufacturing engineers and operators to develop and maintain high-quality products and processes.
Use 3D modeling and CAD tools to support casting and tooling development.
Identify and implement opportunities to improve manufacturing safety, quality, velocity, and cost.