APQP Quality Manager

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.

Your Work Shapes the World

Whether it be groundbreaking products, best in class solutions or creating a lifelong career, you can do the work that matters at Caterpillar. With a 95-year legacy of quality and innovation and 150 locations in countries around the world, your impact spans the globe. When you join Caterpillar, you are joining a team of makers, innovators, and doers. We are the people who roll up our sleeves and do the work to build a better world. We don’t just talk about progress and innovation. We make it happen. And we are proud of that, because it helps our customers build and power the world we live in – the roads, hospitals, homes, and infrastructure. Without a dedicated workforce Caterpillar could not effectively meet our customer’s needs. Join us.
 

CATERPILLAR LARGE POWER SYSTEMS We design and manufacture Cat C27, C32, 3400, 3500, C175, 3600 and C280 platforms; Perkins 4000 series and 5000 series platforms and MWM gas engine platforms, drivetrains and engine system components. Through our global organization, we design and manufacture the most comprehensive lineup of large diesel and natural gas engines in the industry, as well as engine components and powertrains. The large engine product portfolio includes Cat, Perkins and MWM branded products. Applications include Cat machines, electric power generation, marine, oil & gas, industrial and locomotive. 
 

Caterpillar’s Large Power Systems Division is looking for a Quality Manager to support the Lafayette, IN facility. An opportunity is available to lead a proactive quality team within LPSD’s Lafayette Engine Center (LEC), in Lafayette, Indiana. The LEC is source for the industry recognized 3500, 3600 & C175 engines and power systems and engine core components such as cylinder blocks, crankshafts, connecting rods and cylinder heads. The position is responsible for operations quality activities within NPI, NCI, and NSI projects. This position will supervise a team that supports proactive quality activities, including detailed quality data analytics,  The team also closely supports manufacturing with PFMEA and Control Plan development, new build support, NPI/NCI gateway approvals, and specialized problem-solving requests. This position will ensure conformity to global quality processes defined in the Caterpillar Quality Management System (QMS), day to day management of quality resources, and ensure resources are trained and competent.

What You Will Do:

• Lead a highly engaged team of 10 to 15 salary and hourly employees responsible for NPI, NSI, and NCI program support.
• Develop new or improve existing processes that can directly improve the quality of our assembly and machining operations.
• Lead the manufacturing quality team, establishing strong governance, scalable processes, and meaningful KPIs to effectively manage and prioritize NPI, NCI, and NSI workload.
• Recruiting, developing, and leading staff to accomplish personal and organizational goals, adhere to policies/procedures and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
• Communicating adherence to internal/external customer requirements, product or service specifications, and ensures that their expectations are met to achieve high customer satisfaction.
• Work with partners in quality, production, management, and engineering personnel to solve quality issues through data-based decisions.
• Drive quality improvements through effective root cause analysis of new product and process changes.
• Partner with manufacturing and engineering teams to ensure robust strategy for NPI, NCI, and NSI programs.
• Responsible for overseeing the execution of processes, plans and tools that support global quality systems, such as CAVe, APQP, NCI, and NPI.
• Responsible for the training, motivation, and development of employees.

Degree Requirement:

• Bachelor’s degree: however, candidates without a degree who possess equivalent qualifications and demonstrated progressive leadership experience will also be considered.

What You Will Have:
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.
Influencing: Knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to impact decisions within and outside own organization.
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.
Planning and Organizing: Knowledge of the process of planning and arranging tasks and resources; ability to plan and organize both time and resources to get things completed while structuring and maintaining work in a systematic and highly methodical way.
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.
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.
Relationship Management: Knowledge of relationship management techniques; ability to establish and maintain healthy working relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.

Top Candidates will also have:

• 2 or more years of proven Team Leadership experience.
• Experience in significant New Product Introduction (NPI) programs.
• Demonstrated experience in a quality role or contributing to complex quality projects.
• Must possess strong collaborative, interpersonal, and communication skills with an ability to drive change without direct authority.
• Ability to read and interpret documents, such as: QMS, 1E Specs, standard work, and engineering drawings.
• A background with manufacturing processes used to produce components and assemblies (assembly, machining, paint, test).
• Robust understanding of PFMEA’s, Control Plans, Validation Plans, IPV’s, and inspection planning.
• 6 Sigma Black Belt experience.

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)

All eligible candidates MUST pass the following pre-employment screenings before they can be hired to any Caterpillar position:

• Background Screening
• Drug & Alcohol Screening
   

Please ensure you frequently sign into your candidate home for any updates or correspondence for positions that you have applied for. https://cat.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/CaterpillarCareers

Keep a frequent check on emails as correspondence will be sent to the email that you used to apply with. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.
 

Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position.
 

This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers
 

Domestic relocation assistance is offered for this position.
 

About Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

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.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates:

March 17, 2026 - March 27, 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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