Caterpillar, Inc

NPI Team Lead

Caterpillar, Inc$128K — $192K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-15 years of relevant experience in generator sets, power generation, or heavy electromechanical systems.
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering preferred.
  • 6 Sigma Black Belt and Lean manufacturing certification preferred.
  • Strong project management, NPI, and team leadership experience.
  • Knowledge of design for manufacturability (DFM) and quality management practices.

Responsibilities

  • Coordinate resources across various teams to ensure project deliverables are met.
  • Oversee project progress and address issues as they arise.
  • Motivate and develop project team members to achieve their best performance.
  • Manage customer communications and expectations throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Contribute to tactical and strategic planning aligned with business objectives.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Paid vacation and holidays
  • 401(k) savings plan with employer matching
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Short and long-term disability coverage
  • Life Insurance
  • Paid parental leave
  • Employee Assistance Programs
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Incentive bonus opportunities
  • Domestic relocation assistance
Full Job Description
Career Area:
Engineering

Job Description:

Caterpillar's Remanufacturing Division is looking for a NPI Leader to support the Mossville, IL facility. This position is a high visibility leadership position within the Reman Electronics NPI team of Caterpillar's Remanufacturing Division and reports to the NPI Program Manager. This role requires strong engineering fundamentals, project leadership, business acumen, and demonstrated product knowledge in generator ends, generator sets, power generation, large rotating electrics, electric motor functionality, and related manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities:
  • Coordinating with the businesses, sales, marketing, and platform groups to manage resources for each deliverable within the project.
  • Overseeing project progress and costs; communicating status with stakeholders and participating functional areas; addressing and resolving problems.
  • Influencing project staffing; motivating and developing project team and team members.
  • Communicating with customers and managing expectations; ensuring effective use of project controls and reporting mechanisms.

Planning: Tactical, Strategic: Knowledge of effective planning techniques and ability to contribute to operational (short term), tactical (1-2 years) and strategic (3-5 years) planning in support of the overall business plan.

Level Working Knowledge:
  • Contributes to short-term operational plans.
  • Anticipates and adapts to plan changes.
  • Monitors progress of work against plan as required to meet objectives.
  • Reports variances and makes agreed-upon corrections.
  • Under guidance, develops tactical plan for own direct responsibility.


Products and Services: Knowledge of major products and services and product and service groups; ability to apply knowledge of product and service appropriately to diverse situations.

Level Working Knowledge:
  • Obtains information about product and service linkages with other products and services elsewhere in organization.
  • Researches the target market and how the product and services are sold and delivered.
  • Explains current status, delivery alternatives and announced updates to products and services.
  • Summarizes key features of major products or services in own unit.
  • Assesses own unit's product alternatives, costs, and pricing.


Quality Management: Knowledge of quality management methods, tools, and techniques and ability to create and support an environment that meets the quality goals of the organization.

Level Basic Understanding:
  • Explains the purpose and limitations of quality management.
  • Accesses organizational resources that enable quality management.
  • Defines quality management concepts.
  • Cites examples of organizational quality management initiatives.


Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

Level Extensive Experience:
  • Reviews others' writing or presentations and provides feedback and coaching.
  • Adapts documents and presentations for the intended audience.
  • Demonstrates both empathy and assertiveness when communicating a need or defending a position.
  • Communicates well downward, upward, and outward.
  • Employs appropriate methods of persuasion when soliciting agreement.
  • Maintains focus on the topic at hand.


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.


Customer Service Management: Knowledge of customer service priorities and ability to utilize tools and techniques for maintaining an environment where all understand, and are committed to providing excellent service to internal and external customers.

Level Working Knowledge:
  • Facilitates the resolution of customer problems, issues, or concerns.
  • Monitors and reports on delivery of what was promised.
  • Participates in a team that provides direct customer service.
  • Ensures identification of customer needs and priorities.
  • Analyzes problem trends and takes steps to avoid recurrence.


Program Management: Knowledge of the policies and techniques to manage a set of related projects within a program; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control the set of projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve program objectives.

Level Working Knowledge:
  • Assists in detailed project plans including cost, schedule, and resource requirements.
  • Participates in planning, estimating, and executing a set of projects.
  • Follows standard criteria to track project progress and status to ensure they are in line with program objectives.
  • Monitors standard project status reports.
  • Coordinates the necessary resources for managing efficient and effective projects within the program.


Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Knowledge of design for manufacturability guidelines, methodologies, and use cases; ability to use this knowledge to optimize product designs and manufacturing operations.

Level Working Knowledge:
  • Analyzes the implementation challenges of DFM methodologies and shares them with their supervisors.
  • Documents each stage of the design process for audit and review purposes.
  • Follows standard guidelines and best practices while carrying out DFM procedures.
  • Implements DFM methodologies to standardize product designs, simplify operations, and reduce costs for certain types of manufacturing processes.
  • Utilizes basic DFM tools and technologies to implement DFM methodologies.


What Will Set You Apart:
  • Strong design and/or performance engineering knowledge related to generator ends, generator sets, power generation, large rotating electrics, electric motor functionality, and engine manufacturing environments.
  • Previous manufacturing, operations, process engineering, or team leadership experience supporting generator end, generator set, engine, or related electric power manufacturing operations.
  • Demonstrated NPI, project management, Lean manufacturing, and/or 6 Sigma experience, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive execution through product introduction milestones.
  • 10-15 years of product knowledge or relevant experience in generator sets, generator ends, power generation, large rotating electrics, electric motors, or engine manufacturing.
  • Experience in design engineering, performance engineering, process engineering, manufacturing operations, NPI leadership, or related job profiles.
  • Experience within Electric Power Division, Lafayette Engine Center, or similar product groups/divisions is strongly aligned with the needs of this role.

Education and Certifications
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent relevant experience preferred.
  • 6 Sigma Black Belt certification preferred.
  • Lean manufacturing experience or certification preferred.

What You Will Get!

Our goal at Caterpillar is for you to have a rewarding career. Our teams are critical to the success of our customers who build a better world.

Here you earn more than just an hourly wage, because we value your performance, we offer a total rewards package that provides day one benefits along with the potential of annual bonuses.

Additional benefits include paid vacation days and paid holidays (prorated based upon hire date).
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holiday, Volunteer, Etc.)
• 401k savings plan
• Health savings account (HSA)
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Life Insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Healthy Lifestyle Programs
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Voluntary Benefits (Ex. Accident, Identity Theft Protection)

Domestic relocation assistance is offered for this position.

Summary Pay Range:

$128,470.00 - $192,710.00

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.

Posting Dates:
August 17, 2026 - September 6, 2026

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

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.

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

Join the robust team at Caterpillar, Inc., a global leader in construction and mining equipment, where innovation drives everything we do. As part of our team, you'll engage in work that improves the world and furthers your career with every project you touch.

Work You’ll Do

At Caterpillar, Inc., you will have the opportunity to contribute to a variety of groundbreaking projects that extend across the globe. Our commitment to leadership in the industry is unwavering, and we achieve it through a culture that fosters diversity and leadership development.

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Caterpillar offers a wide range of job opportunities and career paths, providing a platform for professional growth and development. Whether you're interested in engineering, sales, marketing, or management, Caterpillar has a position that will utilize your unique skills and talents. We are continuously hiring innovative minds to propel our mission forward and maintain our status as industry leaders.

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Choosing a career at Caterpillar means more than just having a job. It means you're part of a team that values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We offer competitive benefits to ensure the health and well-being of our employees and their families. These benefits include health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off, alongside unique perks like professional development and diversity training programs.

Innovation and Leadership

Drive innovation and industry leadership as part of the Caterpillar team. We empower our employees to lead from their first day on the job, encouraging continuous improvement and career advancement. At Caterpillar, your ideas will shape the future of our business and the industries we serve.

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Prepare for Your Interview

Make a great first impression. Prepare for your interview at Caterpillar by reviewing common questions and practicing your responses. Tailor your resume to highlight the experiences and skills that make you the ideal candidate for the position you are applying for. At Caterpillar, Inc., every role offers the chance to make an impact. Come be a part of our team and drive the future of our global industries. Your career at Caterpillar is not just about what you'll accomplish, but how you'll grow and the innovation you'll lead. Join us and build a career that matters.
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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