Manufacturing Engineer - CNC Programmer
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What you'll do
- Develop, optimize, and sustain safe, efficient manufacturing and tooling processes for machining complex components used in heavy equipment production.
- Create, validate, and maintain CNC programs for multi-axis machining and turning centers, including process prove-out and production support activities.
- Design, engineer, and specify tooling, workholding, fixtures, jigs, machine setup requirements, and related manufacturing solutions to improve quality, safety, and productivity.
- Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation, including operation specifications, work instructions, setup drawings, tooling standards, cycle time analyses, and process sheets.
- Lead root cause analysis, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives addressing safety, quality, throughput, cost, reliability, and process bottlenecks.
- Evaluate, implement, and support manufacturing equipment, tooling, automation, process improvements, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
- Manage technical projects involving new equipment, tooling, software, facility enhancements, and process development, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, and execution.
What they're looking for
- Manufacturing Engineering: Working knowledge of manufacturing engineering methods, equipment, specifications, standards, and practices, with the ability to support the design, installation, maintenance, or improvement of production processes.
- Manufacturing Processes: Ability to create, evaluate, and optimize manufacturing processes and CNC programs, including process controls, manufacturing standards, production activities, and deliverables, while driving the adoption of modern manufacturing technologies.
- Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Ability to gather and organize relevant information, define problems, consider stakeholder perspectives, evaluate risks and benefits, and recommend productive solutions.
- Lean Manufacturing: Working knowledge of lean principles, work-cell considerations, waste reduction, lean assessment tools, and measures of manufacturing effectiveness.
- Project Management: Ability to contribute to project plans, cost and schedule estimates, resource requirements, progress tracking, stakeholder coordination, and status reporting.
- Education or Equivalent Experience: A degree or equivalent practical experience is desired for this position.
Nice to have
- Experience supporting manufacturing equipment, production processes, factory operations, or process improvement in a complex or high-volume manufacturing environment.
- Experience with Creo and NX NC programming, including toolpath development, program verification, post-processor evaluation and modification, and machining process optimization.
- Experience with collaborative automation, collaborative robots, robot risk assessments, automation testing, or deployment of automated manufacturing solutions.
- Familiarity with manufacturing problem-solving and continuous-improvement approaches such as root-cause analysis, process mapping, waste reduction, standard work, or production-performance analysis.
- Experience coordinating engineering projects involving equipment changes, manufacturing-process modifications, cost estimates, schedules, suppliers, or cross-functional stakeholders.
- Ability to communicate technical findings clearly and coach operations or technical personnel through process, equipment, or technology changes.
Summarised by NextRaise from the employer’s description, which follows in full below.
Full description from employer
Career Area:
ManufacturingJob 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 Engineer - CNC Programmer
Location: East Peoria, IL (LL)
Travel: Up to 5%
Relocation Assistance: Available
Visa Sponsorship: Not Available
Job Summary
As a Manufacturing Engineer - CNC Programmer in East Peoria, Illinois, you will provide technical expertise that improves the safety, quality, cost, reliability, and efficiency of complex manufacturing operations. You will evaluate production equipment and processes, identify improvement opportunities, and help implement sustainable engineering solutions.
This position combines hands-on manufacturing support with lean manufacturing, process improvement, equipment reliability, collaborative automation, and project execution. You will work closely with operations, technical teams, and support functions to solve manufacturing challenges and strengthen production capability. The successful candidate will use data, sound engineering judgment, and structured problem-solving to turn operational needs into practical results.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, optimize, and sustain safe, efficient manufacturing and tooling processes for machining complex components used in heavy equipment production.
- Create, validate, and maintain CNC programs for multi-axis machining and turning centers, including process prove-out and production support activities.
- Design, engineer, and specify tooling, workholding, fixtures, jigs, machine setup requirements, and related manufacturing solutions to improve quality, safety, and productivity.
- Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation, including operation specifications, work instructions, setup drawings, tooling standards, cycle time analyses, and process sheets.
- Lead root cause analysis, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives addressing safety, quality, throughput, cost, reliability, and process bottlenecks.
- Evaluate, implement, and support manufacturing equipment, tooling, automation, process improvements, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
- Manage technical projects involving new equipment, tooling, software, facility enhancements, and process development, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, and execution.
Required Skills
- Manufacturing Engineering: Working knowledge of manufacturing engineering methods, equipment, specifications, standards, and practices, with the ability to support the design, installation, maintenance, or improvement of production processes.
- Manufacturing Processes: Ability to create, evaluate, and optimize manufacturing processes and CNC programs, including process controls, manufacturing standards, production activities, and deliverables, while driving the adoption of modern manufacturing technologies.
- Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Ability to gather and organize relevant information, define problems, consider stakeholder perspectives, evaluate risks and benefits, and recommend productive solutions.
- Lean Manufacturing: Working knowledge of lean principles, work-cell considerations, waste reduction, lean assessment tools, and measures of manufacturing effectiveness.
- Project Management: Ability to contribute to project plans, cost and schedule estimates, resource requirements, progress tracking, stakeholder coordination, and status reporting.
- Education or Equivalent Experience: A degree or equivalent practical experience is desired for this position.
Preferred Skills
- Experience supporting manufacturing equipment, production processes, factory operations, or process improvement in a complex or high-volume manufacturing environment.
- Experience with Creo and NX NC programming, including toolpath development, program verification, post-processor evaluation and modification, and machining process optimization.
- Experience with collaborative automation, collaborative robots, robot risk assessments, automation testing, or deployment of automated manufacturing solutions.
- Familiarity with manufacturing problem-solving and continuous-improvement approaches such as root-cause analysis, process mapping, waste reduction, standard work, or production-performance analysis.
- Experience coordinating engineering projects involving equipment changes, manufacturing-process modifications, cost estimates, schedules, suppliers, or cross-functional stakeholders.
- Ability to communicate technical findings clearly and coach operations or technical personnel through process, equipment, or technology changes.
Summary Pay Range:
$97,530.00 - $146,290.00Compensation 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
Posting Dates:
September 10, 2026 - September 24, 2026Any 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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Company
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