Senior Product Procurement Engineer

Caterpillar Inc.•Decatur, IL

13d•$128,470 - $192,710•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. At Caterpillar, you’ll sit at the intersection of engineering, supply chain, and a global supplier network—driving cost, quality, and speed for iconic Large Wheel Loaders and Wheel Tractor Scrapers. As a Senior Product Procurement Engineer, you’ll lead NPI & NSI execution from concept to PPAP, shape resilient value chains, and turn supplier capability into competitive advantage. If you thrive in complex manufacturing environments and love turning data, collaboration, and strategy into real product impact, this role is for you. Our Product Procurement Engineer manages part development and quality feedback loops for New Product Introduction (NPI), Continuous Product Improvement (CPI), and New Source Introduction (NSI) related activities by collaborating with suppliers, design control engineers, value chain engineering, and procurement category teams.

Requirements

Supply Chain Management: Deep, hands‑on experience leading end‑to‑end supply chain strategies across complex organizations. Proven ability to design, implement, and optimize processes, tools, and governance models that control cost, quality, risk, and continuity across the full supply chain lifecycle.
Strategic Sourcing: Extensive experience driving strategic sourcing initiatives for complex programs and portfolios. Demonstrated ability to lead sourcing strategies, continuously assess and improve procurement processes, and guide organizations through trade‑offs involving cost, supplier capability, risk, and long‑term business objectives.
Effective Communications: Advanced communication capability developed through years of cross‑functional and executive engagement. Proven ability to clearly influence decisions, align diverse stakeholders, and translate complex technical and commercial topics into actionable insights for senior leaders, suppliers, and cross‑functional teams.
Supplier Management - MFG: Extensive experience managing strategic manufacturing suppliers across the full relationship lifecycle. Demonstrated ability to lead supplier performance, resolve escalations, drive continuous improvement, and influence outcomes related to quality, delivery, cost, and capacity in high‑stakes environments.
Data-driven Decision Making: Proven ability to leverage data and advanced analytical tools to inform high‑impact business decisions. Extensive experience synthesizing complex data sets, evaluating risk and opportunity, and making recommendations that align with long‑term strategic, operational, and financial objectives.
Analytical Thinking: Advanced analytical expertise applied to complex, ambiguous business challenges. Demonstrated ability to identify root causes, evaluate multiple solution paths, and guide teams through structured problem‑solving that results in durable, scalable outcomes.
Interpersonal Relationships: Highly developed interpersonal skills built through years of collaboration across functions, cultures, and organizational levels. Proven ability to build trust, influence without authority, and lead through partnership in fast‑paced, matrixed environments.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Extensive experience conducting and interpreting cost‑benefit analyses for products, processes, and sourcing decisions. Demonstrated ability to assess total cost of ownership, evaluate trade‑offs, and guide investment decisions that balance short‑term performance with long‑term value.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field preferred
Extensive experience in supply chain, procurement, engineering or related functions
Experience within Caterpillar or a comparable large, complex manufacturing environment
Strong background in engineering and cross functional collaboration with product teams
Demonstrated experience in supply chain strategy and direct material procurement

Responsibilities

Lead Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and cost management activities from concept through PPAP to deliver parts that meet quality, total cost, and timing objectives, in close partnership with cross‑functional teams including supply chain, packaging, transportation, and business resources.
Develop and execute product supply strategies aligned with category management strategies to build a competitive advantage through a resilient, high‑performing global supply network.
Own and manage quality feedback loops across the supply base, ensuring lessons learned from defects and issues are systematically captured, shared, and applied to drive continuous improvement.
Drive Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VAVE) initiatives through cost modeling, design‑for‑manufacturability collaboration, and effective utilization of supplier capabilities.
Leverage deep procurement expertise to support product groups in designing optimal, executable value chains that balance cost, quality, risk, and scalability.
Lead and deploy complex, cross‑functional projects—including New Product Introduction (NPI) execution—to ensure product group targets for performance, cost, and timing are met.
Serve as a key contributor to NPI strategy and execution, guiding teams through sourcing decisions, trade‑offs, and escalations in high‑impact, fast‑paced environments.