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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 Title: Supplier Development Engineer

Salary:  Starting from £50,827 (depending on level of experience)

Location: Larne

Benefits: 

• 25 days annual leave + 8 Bank Holidays
• Up to 12% Bonus
• Contributory pension scheme - Caterpillar will contribute up to 6%
• Contributory share scheme - Caterpillar will match 50% of the employee's contribution.
• Optional flexible benefits including access to health and dental care plans, EV car lease, holiday purchase.

About Electric Power Division
Caterpillar's Electric Power Division (EPD) offers integrated solutions, parts, and services to meet the needs of our various commercial and industrial electric power customers. EPD supports a wide range of customer applications across the globe, including providing prime and back-up power to hospitals, providing emergency power when natural disasters strike, and supporting critical infrastructure for data centers, municipalities, and more.

With a rich history of more than 95 years in the electric power business, our team has world-class expertise and a proven ability to adapt to changing demands. We’re committed to providing sustainable and reliable solutions to our customers.

Join our team to help build a better, more sustainable world for future generations!

The Opportunity

As part of the Power Solutions Network team in EPD you will join a rapidly growing area of the business.  We are adding new suppliers and sources globally to produce our power generation units supporting primarily data center growth.

We are seeking an experienced Supplier Development Engineer to join our team, to provide on-site assistance & leadership to Caterpillar’s supply base in the execution of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), the implementation of process control and the deployment of a continuous quality improvement processes.

You will ensure that suppliers can meet corporate and business unit requirements for certification and quality of purchased materials and assemblies.

What You Will Do

Working with suppliers to ensure that robust process controls are in place to prevent nonconformities, to continuously monitor supplier’s key manufacturing processes and quality management system for improvement opportunities and to assist suppliers with Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) activities to ensure production readiness.

The SDE is responsible for the supplier’s processes from design concept to the end of product life (cradle to grave), including the following activities:

• Assess and develop supplier quality management systems, process capability, and manufacturing readiness, including people, training, tooling, and equipment.
• Lead supplier quality activities for new product introduction, ensuring all formal documentation is approved and archived per standards
• Review and approve quality documentation, including PFMEAs, Control Plans, MSA/Gage R&R, and corrective action plans.
• Conduct supplier audits, capability assessments, and evaluations to verify compliance, process control, and quality standards.
• Manage supplier process changes and ensure timely implementation of Process Change Notifications (PCNs).
• Support suppliers in resolving quality issues through robust root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive supplier performance improvements through quality metrics, performance reviews, and targeted development plans.
• Partner with suppliers to implement Lean principles and build sustainable quality excellence across the supply base.
• Provide technical support during product launches and manufacturing start-up activities.

What You Will Have

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 behaviours.
Level Working Knowledge

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 Extensive Experience

-          Experience of applying 8D process or other structured problem-solving techniques in a manufacturing environment

-          Must be able to lead data gathering and resolution activities with pace

Process Improvement: Understanding and insight into evaluating current product quality and production methods and ability to maintains focus on the continuous improvement of processes, products and services.
Level Extensive Experience

Quality Orientation: Knowledge of quality management methods, tools, and techniques; ability to create and support an environment that meets the quality goals of the organization.
Level Extensive Experience

• Experience driving quality standards and process compliance across engineering supplier networks to ensure consistent delivery and performance.

Manufacturing Standards, Procedures and Policies: Knowledge of organizational standards, procedures and policies in manufacturing activities; ability to plan, guide, and monitor manufacturing processes for compliance.
Level Extensive Experience

-          Ability to read engineering drawings

-          Ability to follow standard processes and documentation

-          Maintain standards applicable to your suppliers, and ensure conformance of all submitted documentation

Supplier Manufacturing Management: Knowledge of processes and methods to effectively manage business relationships and transactions with suppliers of raw materials or product components; ability to apply related knowledge, experience and skills into real practice.
Level Extensive Experience

Supplier Evaluations and Certification: Knowledge of supplier evaluations and certification; ability to identify the methods, tools and documentation for evaluating, selecting and certifying vendors, suppliers and partners.
Level Extensive Experience

Top Candidates will demonstrate

• Experience working with suppliers.
• Project management experience.
• Experience of working in Power generation business   
• Experience of APQP and ISO9001 

Additional information

• Travel – 50% UK, Europe, Middle East
• When not travelling to supplier facilities, you will be based in the office full time.

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 over 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.

NB. The panel cannot make assumptions when shortlisting therefore please demonstrate your qualifications and experience on your CV relevant to the criteria outlined. Pending the number of applications, the criteria for the position may be enhanced to facilitate shortlisting.

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

The panel cannot make assumptions when shortlisting therefore please demonstrate your qualifications and experience on your CV relevant to the criteria outlined.

Pending the number of applications, the criteria for the position may be enhanced to facilitate shortlisting.

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