Manufacturing Project Engineer - Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics

Caterpillar Inc.•East Peoria, IL

1d•$112,710 - $169,060•Onsite

About The Position

As a Manufacturing Project Engineer in East Peoria, Illinois, you will lead projects that improve manufacturing safety, quality, velocity, capacity, and cost. You will apply manufacturing engineering, project management, capacity planning, automation, and technical problem-solving skills to develop and improve production processes. The role works across manufacturing, engineering, operations, research and development, and supplier teams to implement equipment, systems, and process improvements. You will assess manufacturing requirements, translate demand into capacity plans, identify technical risks, and help deliver solutions that support new product introduction and ongoing production. The ideal candidate can organize complex projects, communicate effectively with technical and operational stakeholders, and convert manufacturing challenges into practical, measurable improvements.

Requirements

Ability to translate demand forecasts and new product plans into production capacity, resource, equipment, space, and cost requirements.
Working knowledge of CAD tools for manufacturing layouts, specifications, schematics, and 2D or 3D drawings.
Ability to analyze information, prioritize concerns, assess risks, compare alternatives, and make informed recommendations.
Knowledge of manufacturing processes, equipment, systems, standards, specifications, and equipment implementation.
Experience managing project scope, schedules, costs, resources, risks, deliverables, and stakeholder communications.
Working knowledge of robotics, industrial automation, and computer-controlled manufacturing equipment.
Ability to diagnose, resolve, and document manufacturing equipment, hardware, software, and operational issues.

Nice To Haves

Experience with new product introduction, manufacturing launch readiness, or production line implementation.
Experience with CAD, industrial automation, robotics, or automated manufacturing equipment.
Experience managing capital equipment projects, including specifications, cost estimates, capacity planning, suppliers, risks, and equipment acceptance.
Knowledge of lean manufacturing, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement methods.
Relevant engineering education or equivalent manufacturing project experience.
PMP, Lean Six Sigma, Certified Manufacturing Engineer, or comparable credentials are beneficial but not required.

Responsibilities

Lead projects implementing industrial automation, robotics, or automated manufacturing equipment.
Lead manufacturing projects from feasibility and planning through implementation, validation, and production handoff.
Improve manufacturing safety, quality, velocity, capacity, and cost through process development and continuous improvement.
Manage project scope, schedules, resources, costs, risks, milestones, contingency plans, and stakeholder reporting.
Coordinate the installation and integration of manufacturing equipment, tooling, automation, and systems with plant operations and infrastructure.
Partner with engineering, operations, research and development, quality, maintenance, facilities, supply chain, and suppliers to deliver manufacturing solutions.
Evaluate product and process designs for manufacturability, capacity requirements, and opportunities to improve or automate existing systems.
Develop production capacity plans and estimates for equipment, tooling, floor space, labor, and other resource needs.
Use CAD and engineering tools to develop or review manufacturing layouts, equipment concepts, schematics, and technical documentation.
Troubleshoot manufacturing equipment and process issues, provide technical guidance, and document decisions, corrective actions, and lessons learned.