Metallurgical / Manufacturing Engineer

Caterpillar Inc.•Sumter, SC

5d•$89,210 - $133,810•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Metallurgical / Manufacturing Engineer to support and improve heat treat and plating processing operations within a manufacturing environment. This role plays a key part in ensuring materials achieve the required mechanical and metallurgical properties through well‑controlled processes and sound engineering practices. The ideal candidate brings hands‑on experience supporting production, evaluating material performance, and resolving processing issues while collaborating closely with manufacturing, quality, and operations teams. This position offers the opportunity to make a direct impact on product quality, process reliability, and continuous improvement initiatives in a fast‑paced manufacturing setting.

Requirements

Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree or higher, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge through extensive professional expertise.
Manufacturing Processes: Support production activities involving Heat Treat and Plating operations, ensuring consistency with defined parameters and material specifications. Monitor and control temperature profiles, cycle times, atmospheres, and quenching methods to achieve required mechanical and metallurgical properties. Assist with process qualification, documentation, and standardization for controlled thermal operations. Partner with operations to address process variability, distortion, hardness variation, and rework.
Engineering – Manufacturing: Responsible for running the Metallurgical lab at the facility – related to creating pucks and observing microstructures under a microscope Support manufacturing engineering efforts related to material processing and thermal treatment, including specification review and process optimization. Apply understanding of material behavior, phase transformations, and microstructural outcomes to evaluate process performance. Ensure adherence to engineering standards, metallurgical specifications, and safety requirements for production equipment and operations. Identify and escalate complex material performance or processing concerns to senior engineering staff.
Problem Solving: Investigate material and processing issues using structured problem‑solving and root cause analysis techniques. Analyze defects such as cracking, distortion, improper hardness, or microstructural nonconformance and recommend corrective actions. Collaborate cross‑functionally to implement corrective and preventive measures that improve process reliability. Document findings and support continuous improvement of process control and material performance.
Lean Manufacturing Apply lean principles to improve efficiency, flow, and consistency within thermal processing operations. Identify waste related to batching, handling, rework, and cycle time and support improvement initiatives. Assist with development of standard work and process discipline to improve repeatability and quality. Contribute to continuous improvement efforts focused on reducing scrap and improving first‑pass yield.

Responsibilities

Lead and improve heat treating processes for the facility. Processes include Carburizing, Induction Hardening, and Direct hardening.
Ensure processes and part quality are conforming to customer and Caterpillar heat treat specifications
Serve as onsite metallurgist for facility, performing all metallurgical analysis for Caterpillar Proprietary Heat Treat Processes
Support and assist in process improvements for plating lines in the facility (hexavalent chrome and nickel plating)
Support and optimize heat treat operations to ensure materials meet defined mechanical and metallurgical requirements.
Monitor, analyze, and control process parameters (temperature, time, atmosphere, cooling methods) to maintain consistency and product quality.
Evaluate material performance and microstructural outcomes and provide engineering recommendations to address processing or quality issues.
Investigate and resolve heat‑treat–related defects such as distortion, cracking, hardness variation, or nonconformance using structured problem‑solving methods.
Partner with manufacturing, quality, and operations teams to implement corrective and preventive actions and improve process reliability.
Support process qualification, documentation, and standard work to ensure compliance with engineering and quality standards.
Apply lean manufacturing principles to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance flow within production operations.
Identify opportunities for continuous improvement that reduce scrap, rework, and cycle time while improving first‑pass yield.
Ensure adherence to engineering standards, metallurgical specifications, and safety requirements across manufacturing activities.
Escalate complex material or processing concerns to senior engineering staff as needed.