Supplier Technical Engineer Intern

Job Description

Supplier Technical Engineer Intern | Caterpillar Inc.

The Tone:
This is an internship at Caterpillar Inc., located in San Diego, CA. At Caterpillar, you will join a global team dedicated to shaping the world by creating stronger, more sustainable communities and driving innovation. This role is crucial for managing the technical and quality aspects of purchased parts, directly contributing to the development and lifecycle of products that build a better world. You will act as a key liaison, problem-solver, and technical resource within the supply chain.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time
• Location: San Diego, CA (On-site)
• Pay: $26–$43 hourly
• Team: Reports to the Supply Chain Manager and/or the Site Sourcing Manager
• Mission: To hold technical accountability for assigned purchase parts from initial concept through their entire product life cycle, including all aspects of quality management.
• Tech Stack: Windchill, BAAN ERP, 6 Sigma tools, SARN, RN, PPAP, FAPITP, FMEA, NDT, DOE

What You’ll Actually Do
• Quality Leadership: Provide leadership in the resolution of quality problems associated with purchased materials and engineering issues.
• Technical Management: Manage concept drawing, communicate concepts with suppliers, perform design/drawing review and acceptance, and conduct Windchill activities and functions within BAAN ERP.
• Supplier Liaison: Act as a technical liaison between external suppliers and internal customers through various methods, including supplier site visits.
• Problem Resolution: Serve as the focal point for Supplier Advanced Reject Notices (SARN) and Reject Notices (RN) resolution, initiating root cause analysis and implementing supplier corrective and preventative action plans.
• Process Oversight: Lead the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) and develop the First Article Production Inspection Test Plan (FAPITP) with initial input from Design Engineering.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Early career candidate pursuing or recently graduated with an undergraduate degree from a college or university, preferably in engineering or a manufacturing-related field, with an overall GPA of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.
• Experience: Familiarity with manufacturing processes used to produce components and assemblies, knowledge of shop operations and maintenance procedures, and familiarity with engineering practices and process planning (e.g., interpretation of drawings, tooling concepts, NDT, Functional Test).
• Skills: Strong analytical problem-solving skills, ability to use and communicate statistical and problem-solving tools, strong written and verbal communication skills, and well-developed interpersonal skills for dealing with sensitive issues and building consensus.
• Bonus: Familiarity with 6 Sigma methodology, project management, Design of Experiment (DOE), quality management principles, and Lean Manufacturing principles.