Supplier Development Engineer / Category Buyer

About the role

Career Area: Procurement 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. Role Definition This role is to assess the supplier quality and ensure that all the products are free from defects and are in compliance with manufacturing specifications and legal standards as a Supplier Development Engineer (SDE), and to provide supply network solutions expertise, using Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM) to deliver maximum value as a Category Buyer. Responsibilities as SDE Ensuring the quality of supplies by conducting tests and assessments on incoming supplies to identify any quality issues; Developing supplier inspection, testing, and evaluation mechanism. Generating reports on supplier quality, by monitoring their defect rates and areas that can lead to potential flaws; Guiding suppliers to reduce these defect rates. Researching the potential vendors, assessing their manufacturing environment, practices, and procedures; Conducting supplier quality control audits to ensure compliance with organizational and federal policies and standards. Supporting suppliers in improving their performance through process enhancements, implementing process controls, and developing quality assurance plans. Responsibilities as Category Buyer Developing, managing and executing the category strategy managing policies, agreements, source catalogs, and special procurement programs. Recognizing the potential for cost decreases, inventory reductions and quality improvement, as well as responsibility for soundness of business proposals and risk assessment. Acting as the liaison between the organization and the supplier to communicate information explicitly, while considering production demands and suppliers' conditions. Documenting the suppliers' performance on time sensitiveness and production; maintains a strong relationship with suppliers. Key Tasks Supplier Development & Capability enhancement Supplier Relationship & QCLDM management Supplier SER (Supplier Excellence Recognition) Certification Management NPI (New Product Introduction), APQP Collaboration AoS (Assurance of Supply) including Capacity Planning & Risk Management End-to-end Cost management throughout parts lifecycle (both NPI & Current) SVC (Sustainable Value Creation) & Supplier VAVE lead Responsible suppliers: 5~10 suppliers as SDE and 1~5 suppliers as Category Buyer Required Skills & Experiences Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience Interpersonal Skills & Effective communication Attentively listen to others and understand the real intention even if not explicitly mentioned Fluent in Japanese and English, and can Influence others through effective written & oral communication Seek agreeable points to every party even in difficult and conflicting situations Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving Skills Identify, collect and evaluate necessary data & information for effective analysis Perform effective analysis to reach convincing conclusions and to support timely and appropriate decision-making based on fact & data Leadership Skills Project leading skills to deliver expected outcomes in expected timelines Lead and develop suppliers to get alignment with CAT and category strategies Capability to read and understand drawings & technical specifications is required Intellectual Curiosities and Self-Learning capabilities are required Preferred Skills & Experiences Experience in Purchasing, Supply Chain, Logistics, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality is preferred Capability to lead process improvement & development both internally and externally, and to support suppliers on RCCA development is preferred Capability to review and evaluate PPAP documents is preferred Knowledge in Accounting and Legal (contractual matters, trade regulations) is desired This position requires working onsite five days a week. Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. Posting Dates: June 10, 2026 - June 24, 2026 Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community .