Career Area:

Manufacturing

Job Description:

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.

Job Summary:    

Join us as a Quality Engineer and play a key role in shaping products that our customers can trust. In this role, you’ll be the problem‑solver, the process improver, and the data detective who ensures every component and process meets the highest standards of excellence. You’ll collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and supplier teams to uncover root causes, prevent issues before they happen, and drive meaningful improvements that keep our production lines running smoothly.

If you love using data to drive decisions, thrive on solving complex challenges, and get energized by making systems better every day, this is a role where you’ll have a direct impact on product quality, customer satisfaction, and operational success.

What You Will Do:

• Lead quality reviews and internal audits that keep our processes sharp and our standards high.
• Monitor production and supplier performance to ensure compliance, reliability, and continuous improvement.
• Dive into data — analyzing trends, spotting patterns, and identifying opportunities to boost product quality.
• Investigate non‑conformances, get to the root of issues, and implement corrective and preventive actions that stick.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to solve complex quality challenges and elevate our systems, processes, and products.
• Support improvement programs such as Lean, APQP, and defect‑reduction initiatives that help us operate smarter and more efficiently.

Education requirement:

Candidates should possess a relevant degree or demonstrate equivalent knowledge through professional expertise.

What skills you will have:

Problem Solving:

• Demonstrate ability to perform root cause analysis (RCA) using structured methods such as 5‑Why, Fishbone, 8D, or similar.
• Hands‑on experience using fact‑finding and diagnostic tools to identify issues across processes, materials, or equipment.
• Ability to assess risks and benefits of alternative solutions and recommend sound corrective actions.
• Experience evaluating accuracy and relevance of information to determine true root cause—not just symptoms.
• Familiarity with read and interpret blueprints to identify dimensional, tolerance, or spec-related issues during problem resolution.
• Comfortable collaborating across functions to assess stakeholders’ perspectives when defining problems and validating solutions.

Accuracy & Attention to Detail:

• Demonstrate ability to complete highly precise tasks requiring meticulous documentation, measurement, and verification.
• Hands‑on experience conducting CMM inspections (Coordinate Measuring Machine) with high accuracy.
• Experience programming CMM machines to run repeatable and reliable measurement routines.
• Ability to identify tasks or outputs where accuracy is critical (e.g., dimensional inspections, gauge readings, PPAP data).
• Ability to follow established procedures to ensure results are error‑free, especially when completing R&R (Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility) studies.
• Solid ability to read and interpret blueprints, GD&T, tolerance stacks, and engineering specifications.

Decision Making & Critical Thinking:

• Ability to analyze data sets (including statistical process control, R&R results, and capability studies) to make informed decisions.
• Experience identifying when an issue requires escalation vs. when a decision can be made independently.
• Understanding of decision‑making frameworks and ability to explain steps and logic behind chosen actions.
• Ability to reference past decisions, historical data, or similar failures to guide future decisions.
• Experience determining whether measurement variation is part-specific, process-specific, or gauge-related using statistical techniques.

Quality Management System:

• Working knowledge of QMS processes such as document control, audit readiness, corrective action, and compliance.
• Hands‑on experience supporting PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) submissions, including preparation of dimensional reports, capability studies, and control plans.
• Understanding of how QMS ties into process documentation, measurement planning, and regulatory/customer compliance.
• Familiarity with automated and manual QMS tools for tracking non‑conformances, corrective actions, and quality alerts.
• Ability to use QMS frameworks to drive continuous improvement, supplier development, and standardization of quality processes.

Additional Information:    

This position requires the candidate to work onsite five days a week at the East Peoria, IL office.

Domestic relocation assistance is NOT available for this position.

Visa sponsorship is NOT available with this position.

This position may require up to 10% travel.

Summary Pay Range:

$89,210.00 - $133,810.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. 

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

• 401(k) savings plans*

• Health Savings Account (HSA)*

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

• Health Lifestyle Programs*

• Employee Assistance Program*

• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

• Career Development*

• Incentive bonus*

• Disability benefits

• Life Insurance

• Parental leave

• Adoption benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement

       

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

Posting Dates:

January 15, 2026 - January 26, 2026

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.     

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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