Senior Proactive Quality Engineer

Caterpillar•Lafayette, IN

4d•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. About LPSD The Large Power Systems Division (LPSD) is part of Caterpillar’s Power & Energy segment. Through this global organization, Caterpillar designs and manufactures large (greater than 18 liters) diesel and natural gas engines, powertrains and key engine systems. LPSD products and solutions support customers across power generation, industrial, marine, oil & gas, rail, services and Cat® machine applications worldwide. Job Summary The Sr Quality Engineer plays a key role in proactively planning, deploying, and sustaining quality into products and processes using Caterpillar’s Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and New Product Introduction (NPI) frameworks. This position is accountable for quality leadership across new product (NPI) and new capital (NCI) programs, from concept through production validation and launch. The role emphasizes prevention-based quality fundamentals, front-end risk identification, and cross-functional execution to ensure robust, capable processes and successful launches.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Manufacturing and or equivalent work experience
Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations. Level Working Knowledge: Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives. Examines a specific problem and understands the perspective of each involved stakeholder. Develops alternative techniques for assessing accuracy and relevance of information. Helps to analyze risks and benefits of alternative approaches and obtain decision on resolution. Uses fact-finding techniques and diagnostic tools to identify problems.
Project Management: Knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives. Level Basic Understanding: Identifies project management tools and requirements within own function. Describes the key objectives, phases and deliverables of a current project. Explains the concepts of phase, activity, task, and deliverable. Gives examples of critical paths in projects.
Quality Management System (QMS): Knowledge of Quality Management System's (QMS) functions, features, and capabilities; ability to design, implement, test, and maintain Quality Management Systems to consistently meet customer requirements and regulatory compliances. Level Working Knowledge: Adheres to the process, requirements, and documentation associated with QMS. Contributes to the development of business case analysis for a new QMS functionality in the system. Explains and analyzes quality indicators and metrics relevant to one's business unit or function. Monitors key interfaces and criticalities related to QMS. Reviews various QMS products and service providers available in the market and lists their applications

Nice To Haves

3+ years of progressive experience in Quality, Manufacturing, or Product Engineering.
Experience with APQP, including PFMEAs and Control Plans.
Strong cross-functional indirect leadership.
Strong communicator - able to influence and engage with individuals at all levels of the business to build trusted partnerships.
Proven analytical and structured problem-solving capability.
Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) and/or New Capital Introduction (NCI).
Quality certifications such as ASQ-CQE or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt.
Experience with process capability analysis and error-proofing methods.
Familiarity with manufacturing and quality systems (inc. Defect tracking, MESA, eMachine, deviation management, PCN).

Responsibilities

Lead APQP execution for NPI and NCI programs, ensuring early identification of validation plans, audit strategies, and project readiness reviews.
Support PFMEA development, ensuring risks are identified early and mitigated appropriately
Develop, review, and maintain Control Plans aligned to PFMEA risk, process capability, and customer requirements.
Serve as quality lead on New Product and New Capital programs, supporting design readiness, manufacturability, inspection strategy, and error-proofing.
Lead process validation activities including capability analysis, production trials, and run-at-rate evaluations.
Partner with manufacturing, operations, and engineering to ensure internal process readiness.
Support early production launches by monitoring quality indicators, addressing emerging risks, and driving preventive actions.
Lead structured problem-solving when required, while ensuring lessons learned are fed back into APQP documentation.
Identify and support quality metrics focused on risk prevention and launch robustness.
Provide APQP and quality fundamentals training to cross-functional teams.