Manufacturing Project Engineer

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.

The Mapleton Foundry is one of the largest foundries in the United States and is home to the largest core-making machine in the world. Working at the foundry requires a strong commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

With more than 800 employees at the foundry, we are looking for an engineer to support process development and improvement projects focused on enhancing the safety, quality, velocity, and cost of our manufacturing operations through casting simulation and tooling design and development.

What You’ll Do:

In this role, you will support foundry casting and tooling projects from development through implementation, working cross-functionally to improve casting designs, manufacturing processes, and product quality.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide technical expertise and guidance for major foundry pattern and tooling projects, partnering with internal and external suppliers to support and improve casting designs.
• Utilize casting simulation and engineering analysis to support the development and optimization of casting designs and manufacturing processes.
• Support the implementation of New Product Introduction (NPI) and Continuous Product Improvement (CPI) activities for castings.
• Collaborate with design engineering, operations, quality, manufacturing engineering, and suppliers to implement and improve casting designs.
• Support tooling design, development, and implementation to meet manufacturing and product requirements.
• Provide technical guidance to manufacturing engineers and operators to develop and maintain high-quality products and processes.
• Apply 3D modeling and CAD tools to support casting and tooling development.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve manufacturing safety, quality, velocity, and cost.

What Skills You’ll Have:

Problem Solving: Working 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.

Lean Manufacturing: Working 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.

Project Management: Basic knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.

Manufacturing Best Practices and Standards: Basic knowledge of best practices and standards for improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of the design, production, and distribution of manufacturing products; ability to create and implement best practices and standards for various casting processes and activities.

Manufacturing Process Design and Development: Basic knowledge of how to develop or design metal casting manufacturing process; ability to establish and determine which processes and parameters should be opted to improve functionality and costs.

Change Control - MFG: Basic knowledge of metal casting processes and procedures by which a change is identified, evaluated, approved, monitored and documented; ability to manage changes in the production environment and processes effectively.

Top Candidates Will Also Have:

• Previous foundry tooling, pattern, or casting process experience.
• Experience with casting simulation, particularly MAGMA.
• Experience with 3D modeling and/or CAD.
• Experience supporting tooling projects involving casting design, development, and implementation.
• Experience supporting NPI and/or CPI activities for cast components.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to use spreadsheets to support production reporting, analysis, and operational decision-making.

Additional Information:

• This position is located in Mapleton, Illinois.
• This is a first-shift, Monday-Friday position.
• Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Final Details:

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including your junk/spam folder, as this is the primary method of correspondence.

To check the status of your application, please use the candidate login on our career website, which will reflect any updates to your application status.

 

 

Summary Pay Range:

$112,710.00 - $169,060.00

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:

October 27, 2026 - November 10, 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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