Manufacturing Project Engineer – Sanford Advanced Manufacturing

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. Caterpillar is developing a new advanced manufacturing campus in Sanford, North Carolina, to expand production capacity for compact track loaders and telehandlers. The modern, technology-enabled operation is expected to incorporate automation, robotics, digital production systems, and integrated logistics capabilities to enhance safety, quality, and operational performance. Employees will help build the products our customers rely on while developing skills in advanced manufacturing and supporting the continued growth of Caterpillar’s Cat Compact℠ business. Job Summary We are seeking two Manufacturing Project Engineers: one focused on Paint and one focused on Assembly. These roles are ideal for someone who wants to lead the development of a manufacturing operation from the ground up. You will own major projects and integrated manufacturing systems across an entire Paint or Assembly line, bringing new processes, equipment, automation, robotics, connected systems, and digital manufacturing tools into production. The goal is to achieve benchmark levels of safety, quality, and efficiency through lean manufacturing processes, robust quality systems, and practical smart automation solutions. The role carries end-to-end responsibility at the entire Paint or Assembly line level—not only for individual pieces of equipment or isolated subsystems. You will lead work from early concept and line design through supplier selection, equipment installation, system integration, commissioning, and launch. Candidates do not need experience in both Paint and Assembly, but should bring strong manufacturing engineering, process development, project execution, and problem-solving capability relevant to one or both areas. What You Will Do Establish the operating concept, technical requirements, production flow, and performance standards of the paint and assembly line. Own major project scopes, schedules, budgets, technical specifications, risk assessments, supplier deliverables, implementation plans, and final acceptance criteria. Work with operations, engineering, quality, maintenance, supply chain, facilities, safety, information technology, suppliers, and contractors. Provide technical leadership for the integrated line system, including equipment, tooling, fixtures, process controls, layouts, material flow, interfaces, and production performance. Identify practical opportunities for automation, robotics, error-proofing, machine connectivity, digital work processes, and data-driven improvement. Lead suppliers and system integrators through design reviews, interface management, installation, commissioning, validation, performance testing, and final acceptance of line-level systems. Analyze capacity, cycle times, material flow, labor needs, throughput, bottlenecks, and production readiness. Develop standard work, process documentation, operating procedures, preventive maintenance input, and knowledge transfer for operations and maintenance teams. Mentor engineers, technicians, and manufacturing team members to strengthen technical capability and disciplined problem solving. Paint Focus Lead development and integration of the complete automated paint line as a manufacturing system, with responsibility spanning process design, major capital projects, equipment interfaces, launch, and sustained line performance. Relevant experience may include paint system implementation, coatings operations, robotic applicati…

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