Section Manager - Engine Test

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.

"Updated: 09/29/2025

Role Definition
Oversees and coordinates the activities of a diesel engine test cell area, more complex production line, prepares schedules, resolves issues, and ensures adherence to safety and quality standards.

Responsibilities
•    Creating reports and records of production processes, tools issues performance, and inventory; sharing them with managers and providing suggestions to improve safety, productivity and quality.
•    Preparing, maintaining, and updating documentation related to operating procedures and safety and quality standards; ensuring all processes and products meet desired safety and quality standards.
•    Supervising and directing the daily activities of production lines workers, assigning tasks, ensuring coordination between different teams, ensuring their safety and monitoring their performance.
•    Training new hires, managing scheduling and work conflicts, monitoring safety, and promoting internal communication to create a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Degree Requirement
Degree or equivalent experience desired

Skill Descriptors
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.

Data Gathering & Analysis: Knowledge of data gathering and analysis tools, techniques, and processes; ability to collect and synthesize data from a variety of stakeholders and sources in an objective manner to reach a conclusion, goal, or judgment.
Level Basic Understanding: 
•     Describes alternative data-gathering techniques and tools.
•     Documents basic data-gathering methodologies.
•     Identifies the purposes of data gathering and analysis.
•     Identifies key objectives in gathering and analyzing data.

Performance Management: Knowledge of successful performance management techniques; ability to apply organization's performance management system, practices, and tools to developing and improving individual, team, and organizational performance.
Level Working Knowledge: 
•     Identifies opportunities to enhance performance, e.g., practice assignments, training, shadowing.
•     Ensures performance goals, checkpoints, and feedback focus on behaviors.
•     Provides documented input to formal performance review conducted by manager.
•     Observes individual performance and provides fair and objective feedback.
•     Uses formal and informal rewards and recognition programs for employees.

Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.
Level Basic Understanding: 
•     Names specific tools or techniques that can be used to support the analytical thinking process.
•     Describes specific software applications or products used for business analytics.
•     Gives examples of how analytical thinking has been used to resolve problems.
•     Helps others research and learn more about business analytics tools and applications.

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.

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.
Level Working Knowledge: 
•     Raises awareness of potential bottlenecks and disruptions to the schedule.
•     Breaks tasks into manageable steps that can be incorporated into a personal work plan.
•     Escalates concerns over competing or conflicting priorities.
•     Monitors progress continuously and adjusts tactics for handling situations on a case by case basis.
•     Creates action plans that ensure the accomplishment of responsibilities.

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 Working Knowledge: 
•     Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.
•     Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.
•     Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.
•     Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.
•     Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.

Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.
Level Basic Understanding: 
•     Explains the importance of accuracy in own function or unit.
•     Identifies tasks or outputs that require accuracy and detail-level attention.
•     Identifies the procedures for making sure that results are mistake-free.
•     Describes consequences of errors within own unit or function.

This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job.  At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization.  It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of “essential job functions” as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act."

 

Posting Dates:

August 20, 2026 - September 2, 2026

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

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.