Supplier Quality Engineer - Aftertreatment
Caterpillar · Pontiac, IL
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $98k–$146k
- Travel
- 30%
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level quality role at Caterpillar (industrial) in Pontiac, IL. Drive a shift from reactive containment to preventive supplier quality planning, aligned with Aftertreatment quality risk and customer pain priorities.
- They ask for
- degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Root cause, FMEA, PPAP, APQP, Control plans, MSA / Gage R&R
- Base pay
- $98k–$146k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 30% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $99k–$146k. This one lists $98k–$146k.
Median of the low and high ends of 42 live postings that list pay, out of 54 quality engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 53 other live quality postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- About 10% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $98k–$125k, from 36 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 48%
- ✓ Root cause 46%
- ✓ Supplier quality 44%
- Team leadership 35%
- ✓ FMEA 33%
- SPC 33%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at Caterpillar
We found 9 people at this company and state: 5 in this kind of role, 4 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Aaron → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting says about 30% travel. Between which sites?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Caterpillar in Pontiac
3 other open roles at this site · 9 people we found in quality roles at Caterpillar.
- Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing
- Aftertreatment Manufacturing Engineer - NPI · Manufacturing
- Product Change Control Engineer · Controls
Full description from CaterpillarAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Job Summary
The Aftertreatment Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) is responsible for ensuring supplier process capability, quality system robustness, and compliance for both existing and new Aftertreatment suppliers. This role focuses on prevention over containment by partnering with suppliers early, validating manufacturing and quality controls, and executing structured supplier audits and development plans.
The SQE will collaborate closely with other Aftertreatment SQEs, Manufacturing Engineering, Design Engineering, Procurement, and Quality to ensure new and modified supplier processes are developed with the appropriate controls in place and that suppliers are capable of meeting safety, regulatory, quality, and delivery
requirements
throughout the product lifecycle.
What you will do
- ◆Work in a team environment to develop and implement best practices that emphasize defect prevention, reduction in variation and waste and provide for continuous improvements in meeting all customer requirements.
- ◆Own quality performance for assigned Aftertreatment suppliers, including, escape prevention, corrective action effectiveness, and risk mitigation.
- ◆Lead structured problem‑solving with suppliers using standard methodologies (e.g., RCCA, 8D), ensuring root cause and systemic corrective actions are implemented and sustained.
- ◆Drive a shift from reactive containment to preventive supplier quality planning, aligned with Aftertreatment quality risk and customer pain priorities
Degree Requirement
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
requirements
and regulatory compliances.
Experience in supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or supplier development in a regulated or high‑complexity product environment.
Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, and corrective action methodologies.
Experience conducting or supporting supplier audits and on‑site supplier engagement.
Project Management: 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.
- ✓Lead supplier onboarding activities for new Aftertreatment suppliers, including quality system assessments, APQP readiness, PPAP execution, and launch support.
- ✓Ensure new or changed supplier processes have appropriate controls in place (PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, capability evidence) prior to production approval.
- ✓Partner with Engineering and Procurement to assess supplier readiness for NPI, volume ramps, and design or process changes.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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.
Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.
When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team that cares not just about the work we do, but also about each other. We make progress and innovation happen, helping our customers build a better, more sustainable world.
What you will have
Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Working knowledge and understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.
Collaborating: Working knowledge of collaborative techniques; ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.
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.
Quality Management System (QMS): Working knowledge of Quality Management System's (QMS) functions, features, and capabilities; ability to design, implement, test, and maintain Quality Management Systems to consistently meet customer
Top candidates will possess
- •Experience with Aftertreatment, emissions‑related products, or similarly regulated components.
- •Experience supporting NPI launches and supplier onboarding.
- •Familiarity with global supplier networks and cross‑regional collaboration.
- •Demonstrated ability to influence suppliers and internal stakeholders without direct authority.
Additional Information
- •This position requires the selected candidate to work on-site five days a week in the Pontiac, IL facility.
- •Domestic relocation provided
- •Visa sponsorship is NOT provided.
- •Travel: Domestic travel up to 30% - some international possible
Final Details
Please ensure you frequently sign in to your candidate home for any updates or correspondence for positions that you have applied for. https://cat.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/CaterpillarCareers.
This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers
Summary Pay Range
$97,530.00 - $146,290.00
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, Volunt