NPI Team Lead

Caterpillar Inc.•Tucson, AZ

2d•$147,760 - $221,640•Onsite

About The Position

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc. When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it. Your Work Shapes the World Whether it be groundbreaking products, best-in-class solutions, or creating a lifelong career, you can do the work that matters at Caterpillar. With a 95-year legacy of quality and innovation and 150 locations in number of countries around the world, your impact spans the globe. When you join Caterpillar, you are joining a team of makers, innovators, and doers. We are the people who roll up our sleeves and do the work to build a better world. We don’t just talk about progress and innovation. We make it happen. And we are proud of that because it helps our customers build and power the world we live in – the roads, hospitals, homes, and infrastructure. Without a dedicated workforce, Caterpillar could not effectively meet our customer’s needs. Join us. In this position, you will lead a multi-functional team that manages all phases of the NPI (New Product Introduction) process for Resource Industries Tracked Products, including Hydraulic Mining Shovels, Electric Rope Shovels, Large Track-Type Tractors, and Surface Rock Drills. You will play a key role in defining pre-Launch program requirements and take these programs from Launch to GW7 with a keen eye on the Quality, Velocity, and Cost of the program. You will be responsible for identifying and finding improvement opportunities across each of the PQVC processes and executing strategies to address them. This role will be expected to run multiple programs at the same time and support the development of product strategies. This role will focus primarily upon the Hydraulic Mining Shovel and Electric Rope Shovel Products.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree from an Accredited College or University.
Products & Services Knowledge: Understands major product groups, their features, and market positioning, and applies this knowledge to support decisions and program execution.
Planning: Ability to develop tactical plans and contribute to long‑term strategic planning while ensuring alignment with overall business objectives.
Quality Management: Apply quality tools and continuous improvement practices to ensure processes and deliverables meet organizational standards.
Effective Communication: Communicate clearly with diverse audiences and conveys complex information effectively through strong written and verbal communication.
Problem Solving: Use structured problem‑solving methods to analyze issues, lead resolution efforts, and develop effective solutions.
Customer Service Management: Ability to maintain a customer‑focused approach by monitoring service quality, addressing gaps, and ensuring strong internal and external relationships.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience of NPI Programs - program lead, team member, sub-team leader etc.
Must have excellent problem-solving skills and good leadership and team management capabilities.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Master or Undergrad Degree in Engineering or Management.
Strong commercial, business, engineering, and manufacturing skills along with an understanding of product test & development, materials, accounting, and pricing functions.
Project or people leadership experience.
Progressively responsible job-related experience.

Responsibilities

Leads activities defining NPI Program deliverables, scope, timelines, and business case.
Develops overall program schedule considering requirements of all teams involved from product development to validation and value chain readiness.
Creates, leads, and coordinates Gate Reviews and other stakeholder reviews.
Manages the Program Team and keeps a close eye on any gaps to achieve program goals.
Acts as a link between all the teams involved in program execution to drive a consistent approach in gap resolutions and developing recommendations for leadership decisions.
Provides input into marketing strategies and customer messages related to products and markets impacted by the program.
Acts as the NPI expert in support of all project teams.