Caterpillar, Inc

Manufacturing Engineer - Test Cells

Caterpillar, Inc • $97K — $146K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, specifically with generator testing projects.
  • Proficient in collaborative automation techniques and cobot deployment.
  • Strong decision-making and critical thinking skills in engineering contexts.
  • Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and practices.
  • Experience in project management and effective resource utilization.

Responsibilities

  • Identify and implement enhancements to manufacturing operations and equipment.
  • Monitor equipment reliability and address operational issues.
  • Supervise and develop technical staff in manufacturing processes.
  • Lead engineering support for equipment planning and maintenance.
  • Conduct risk assessments and implement safety measures for cobots.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits
  • Paid time off (vacation, holidays, volunteer days)
  • 401(k) savings plans
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Career development opportunities
  • Incentive bonuses
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Parental leave and adoption benefits
Full Job Description

Career Area:

Manufacturing

Job Description:

Job Summary
This position is for a Manufacturing Engineer 3 role focused on support of Generator Testing Projects across the Lafayette Engine Center. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in the testing of generator packages across 3500, C175 and 3600 Platforms.


This role will help lead key initiatives to help stabilize the process health, increase process capabilities, and reduce operational performance variation through the execution of continuous improvement projects. The selected candidate will serve as a key technical resource on Generator New Product Introductions and any related process changes.



What you will do

  • Identifying and implementing enhancements and modifications to complex manufacturing operations equipment and processes.
    • Monitoring sophisticated equipment and process reliability; identifying and addressing problem areas.
    • Providing direct supervision, coaching and development for operations technical staff and support areas.
    • Leading engineering support on planning, development, operation, and maintenance of equipment, processes, or facilities.

Degree Requirement

Degree or Related Experience

What you will have
Collaborative Automation: Knowledge of techniques and processes of collaborative automation; ability to develop and deploy cobots to automate manufacturing processes.

Level Working Knowledge:

  • Assesses manual operations to identify cobot applications.
  • Implements cobots to improve ergonomics and safety of manufacturing operations.
  • Performs cobot risk assessment to safely incorporate cobots in manufacturing operations.
  • Tests cobots to identify and correct defects or anomalies.
  • Uses appropriate tools, software, and programming techniques to model, develop and deploy cobots.

 

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

Level Working Knowledge:

  • Applies an assigned technique for critical thinking in a decision-making process.
  • Identifies, obtains, and organizes relevant data and ideas.
  • Participates in documenting data, ideas, players, stakeholders, and processes.
  • Recognizes, clarifies, and prioritizes concerns.
  • Assists in assessing risks, benefits and consideration of alternatives.

 

Engineering - MFG: Knowledge of processes, techniques and methods of engineering in a manufacturing environment; ability to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems and processes that safely realize a desired objective or invention.

Level Working Knowledge:

  • Assists in problem resolution, drafting and writing specifications for engineering practices.
  • Works with basic, routine components of the engineering discipline in manufacturing.
  • Performs basic installation, maintenance and repairs for a specific engineering function.
  • Follows relevant standards, policies and practices in engineering operations.
  • Reports unusual engineering issues and considerations regarding manufacturing operations to senior staff.

 

Lean Manufacturing: Knowledge of the philosophy, principles and implementation approaches of lean manufacturing; ability to integrate and implement lean manufacturing philosophy into existing production and management processes.

Level Working Knowledge:

  • Discusses considerations for work cell design and effectiveness monitoring.
  • Finds solution for key technical and people problems associated with transformation to lean.
  • Explains issues and considerations of implementing lean in own function or area.
  • Selects and utilizes tools, techniques and measurements associated with a lean assessment.
  • Explains benchmarks and measures of effectiveness of lean.

 

Manufacturing Processes: Knowledge of existing product manufacturing methods, technologies and processes; ability to execute, plan, manage and monitor the entire manufacturing process.

Level Working Knowledge:

  • Assesses associated phases, activities, deliverables and processes.
  • Documents relevant standards, policies and practices.
  • Follows standard manufacturing processes to conduct production activities.
  • Researches new technologies to be integrated into existing manufacturing process.
  • Explains tools, techniques and documents used for process monitoring and control.

 

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 Working Knowledge:

  • Provides input for Gantt or PERT charts or their equivalent to track project progress and status.
  • Under guidance, plans and estimates simple projects.
  • Assists in detailed project plans including cost, schedule, and resource requirements.
  • Obtains information from stakeholders during the planning stage of a project.
  • Produces standard project status reports.

 

 

What will put you ahead

  • Knowledge and Experience with Production Testing (Operations, Quality, Engineering)
  • Test Cell Experience (Dyno Test Cell preferred)
  • Experience reading and understanding electrical diagrams
 

 

Summary Pay Range:

$97,530.00 - $146,290.00

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

 

 

This position requires working onsite five days a week. 

 

Relocation is available for this position.

 

 

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

 

 

Posting Dates:

October 5, 2026 - October 15, 2026

About Caterpillar, Inc

Progress Rail Services Corporation, a Caterpillar company, is one of the largest integrated and diversified suppliers of railroad and transit system products and services worldwide. Since its acquisition by Caterpillar Inc. in 2006, Progress Rail has used the Caterpillar international footprint to gain quick and widespread notice and approval across the globe. Product technology, reliability and durability, along with legendary aftermarket parts and service support, have been their keys to success. Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The technology and world reach of Caterpillar, combined with the service standard and historical reliability of Progress Rail, ensures their products and services make a growing impact on the world rail industry. With their acquisition of Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD), Progress Rail is the world's largest builder of diesel-electric locomotives for all commercial railroad applications including freight, intercity passenger, commuter, switching, industrial and mining. EMD is also a global provider of diesel power engines for marine propulsion, offshore and land based oil well drilling rigs and stationary power generation. Electro-Motive is the only diesel engine manufacturer of its size to have produced more than 70,000 engines. This success stems from product reliability, serviceability, load acceptance capability, low operating costs and ease of maintenance with standardized components.

Caterpillar, Inc. Careers

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Learn more about Caterpillar, Inc
Size
107,700 employees
Market Cap
$125.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
$2.9 billion
Founded
1925
5 Year Trend
+5.8%
Revenue
$41.7 billion
NASDAQ

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