Manufacturing Project Engineer

Caterpillar•Mossville, IL

3d•$112,710 - $169,060•Onsite

About The Position

The MMT – Physical Automation Development team plays a critical role in advancing Caterpillar’s manufacturing capabilities through innovative automation and welding fabrication solutions . As a Manufacturing Project Engineer , you will lead the development and deployment of automated welding and fabrication processes , supporting the production of highly engineered components across multiple manufacturing platforms. This role sits at the intersection of automation engineering, welding fabrication, and manufacturing execution . You will drive projects that improve process capability, equipment performance, quality, and cost , while supporting new product launches and future‑state automation strategies. Acting as a technical leader and subject matter expert, you will guide projects from concept through implementation, ensuring alignment with Caterpillar’s commitments to People, Quality, Velocity, and Cost .

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Weld Engineering, Weld Engineering Technology , or a related field, or equivalent technical experience in automation and welding fabrication
Project Management: Leads automation and welding fabrication projects from concept through implementation
Organizes and drives component and process startup with manufacturing facilities and suppliers
Coordinates and influences cross‑functional teams across engineering, operations, automation, and supply chain
Applies best practices in capital project execution to deliver predictable, repeatable outcomes
Provide project updates to project team, manufacturing facilities, Caterpillar welding community and other stakeholders
Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Evaluates technical, operational, and automation tradeoffs to develop enterprise‑focused solutions
Makes informed decisions that balance safety, quality, velocity, and cost in manufacturing environments
Communicates decisions clearly to build alignment across engineering, manufacturing, and automation teams
Engineering – Manufacturing (MFG): Applies weld process design principles to develop robust automated welding and fabrication processes
Supports robotic welding, automated fabrication cells, tooling, and fixturing development and optimization
Applies lean manufacturing principles to reduce waste, improve flow, and enhance process capability
Utilizes welding and fabrication knowledge (materials, joint design, process controls, specifications, standards and manufacturing practices) to support automation success
Partners with suppliers and internal teams to develop, validate, and industrialize automation solutions
Mentors manufacturing and automation engineers on process design, automation standards, and best practices
Technical Troubleshooting: Identifies and resolves complex automation, welding, equipment, and process issues using structured problem solving
Partners with operations, quality, engineering, and suppliers to address issues impacting safety, quality, delivery, or cost
Leads root cause analysis and corrective actions to drive sustainable improvements in automated manufacturing performance

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership for automation and welding fabrication projects , partnering with manufacturing, engineering, suppliers, and automation teams to improve productivity, quality, and cost performance
Lead development of automated welding and fabrication processes for New Product Introduction (NPI), Continuous Product Improvement (CPI), and manufacturing transformations
Develop, evaluate, and implement automated welding systems , robotic cells, fixturing, and supporting manufacturing processes within plant and supplier environments
Support the design, installation, commissioning, and ramp‑up of welding automation and fabrication equipment, ensuring safe, stable, and repeatable production
Evaluate product and process designs to assess weldability, manufacturability, automation feasibility , and opportunities for process improvement
Collaborate closely with design engineering to drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) improvements related to welding and automation
Serve as a technical mentor and resource for manufacturing and automation engineers, promoting standardized automation practices
Develop and manage detailed project plans , defining scope, schedule, resources, risks, and capital requirements
Execute manufacturing transformation initiatives aligned with People, Quality, Velocity, and Cost , ensuring scalable and sustainable automation solutions
Coordinate capability deployment activities with product groups, automation teams, and manufacturing engineering to ensure production readiness and successful launches
Mentor less experienced welding engineers
Keep up to date with new technologies in the areas of welding and automation