Manufacturing Engineering Manager - Assembly

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.

Manufacturing Engineering Manager - Assembly

Primary Location: Decatur, IL
Travel: Up to 5%
Relocation Assistance: Available
Visa Sponsorship: Not Available

As Manufacturing Engineering Manager - Assembly in Decatur, IL, you will lead manufacturing engineering expertise to deliver lean manufacturing and assembly processes, guiding requirements, plant layouts, machine moves, and new equipment installations. You will build and maintain a high-performing team that partners closely with operations to improve safety, quality, velocity, and cost through standardized work, tooling strategy, and continuous improvement across assembly and testing operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the manufacturing engineering organization by hiring, developing, coaching, and retaining a high-performing team that supports manufacturing operations.
• Own assembly and testing process engineering across assembly lines/cells: work standards, tooling/fixtures, gaging and checking equipment, and release readiness to enable repeatable, capable production.
• Drive safety high energy process simplification across all assembly lines
• Drive manufacturing processing leadership including cost estimating, systems planning, plant layout, standards, and continuous improvement of methods and infrastructure.
• Control plant layouts, machine moves, and new equipment installations to ensure efficient, safe, and economical manufacture/assembly.
• Ensure facilities, methods, and capacity alignment so products are manufactured in line with authorized product programs and capacity schedules.
• Champion lean manufacturing adoption across the organization, including work-cell design and performance measurement to improve flow and reduce waste.
• Lead structured problem solving for complex assembly/manufacturing issues capturing lessons learned and standardizing sustainable countermeasures.

Required Skills

• Manufacturing/Assembly Process Leadership: Extensive knowledge of manufacturing processes and the requirements for cost-effective manufacturing or assembly, including standards, releasing, and work methods.
• Lean Manufacturing: Extensive experience leading lean adoption, including work-cell design, layout optimization, and key performance measurements.
• Manufacturing Equipment & Integration: Extensive knowledge evaluating/selecting equipment, coordinating multi-vendor environments, and implementing infrastructure changes safely and effectively.
• Capacity Planning & Management (Manufacturing): Extensive knowledge translating demand forecasts into production and capacity requirements and advising across planning cycles.
• Decision Making & Problem Solving: Extensive knowledge using data-driven decision approaches and leading problem-resolution efforts that create standard, repeatable solutions.
• People Leadership / Performance Management: Extensive knowledge setting objectives, providing ongoing feedback, recognizing performance, and addressing gaps early.
• Education: Degree or equivalent experience desired.

Preferred Skills

• Experience supporting or leading automation/advanced manufacturing deployments (e.g., robots, sensor-based solutions) in assembly environments.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction activities and manufacturing readiness for product launches (process capability, tooling availability, launch execution).
• Experience programming or integrating controls/automation solutions (e.g., PLC programming, industrial robot integration) in manufacturing workflows.
• Strong background in plant layout, tooling strategy, work standards, and manufacturing documentation practices to support repeatable assembly outcomes.

 

 

Summary Pay Range:

$147,760.00 - $221,640.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market