Career Area: Manufacturing

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.

Job Description

Guide, develop, and evaluate mechanical trainees while overseeing day-to-day maintenance activities. The role ensures that trainees gain technical competence, safety awareness, and professional habits required to become fully qualified maintenance technicians.

Responsibilities

Creating work plans for staff and contractors; reviewing the maintenance work performed by technicians.
Coordinate daily maintenance schedules, allocate tasks appropriate to trainee skill levels, and ensure efficient workflow.
Enforce safety protocols, conduct toolbox talks, and ensure trainees understand and follow all regulatory and site‑specific safety requirements.
Assign, supervise, and review mechanical maintenance tasks performed by trainees, ensuring work meets operational and safety standards through technical oversight.
Coaching and mentoring teams to encourage, motivate, and guide individuals in learning and improving effectiveness.
Maintain accurate records of trainee hours, completed tasks, competency milestones, and maintenance logs.
Monitor trainee progress, document competencies, provide constructive feedback, and recommend advancement or additional training.
Deliver structured on the job training, coach trainees through troubleshooting, and provide progressive skill building opportunities.
Work closely with senior technicians, engineering teams, and operations to align trainee activities with plant needs.

Degree Requirement

Degree or equivalent experience desired

Skills you must have

Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Basic understanding of the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.
Accountability — Modeling high standards for trainees.
Adaptability — Foundries are unpredictable; supervisors must adjust quickly.
Attention to Detail — Critical in environments where small errors can cause major failures.
Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Working Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
Performance Management: Basic knowledge of successful performance management techniques; ability to apply organization's performance management system, practices, and tools to develop and improve individual, team, and organizational performance.
Coaching & Mentoring — Ability to teach hands‑on skills patiently and effectively.
Competency Assessment — Tracking trainee progress and identifying skill gaps.
Communication Skills — Clear instructions in noisy, fast‑paced environments.
Conflict Resolution — Managing stress, disagreements, or performance issues.
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.
Root Cause Analysis — Teaching trainees how to diagnose not just symptoms but underlying causes.
Lean Maintenance Concepts — Reducing downtime and waste in a heavy‑industry environment.
Reliability‑Centered Thinking — Building long‑term equipment health into trainee habits.
Mechanical Maintenance & Equipment Expertise: Knowledge of industrial systems and foundry equipment, with ability to perform troubleshooting and apply preventive and predictive maintenance to maximize reliability and performance.
Mechanical Systems Knowledge — Strong understanding of pumps, conveyors, hydraulics, pneumatics, gearboxes, bearings, and rotating equipment.
Foundry Equipment Familiarity — Knowledge of molding machines, shakeout systems, furnaces, casting lines, cooling systems, and dust collection.
Preventive & Predictive Maintenance — Ability to teach and enforce PM tasks, lubrication standards, and condition monitoring.
Troubleshooting Skills — Rapid diagnosis of mechanical failures under production pressure.
Total Productive Maintenance (TPM): Basic knowledge of total productive maintenance principles, methods, and processes; ability to maximize machinery effectiveness through active involvement of all supporting departments.
TPM Implementation — Ability to lead and teach TPM principles such as autonomous maintenance, equipment ownership, and continuous improvement.
Autonomous Maintenance Coaching — Guiding trainees to perform basic inspections, cleaning, lubrication, and early detection of abnormalities.
OEE Awareness — Understanding how equipment availability, performance, and quality ties into foundry productivity.
Kaizen & Small‑Group Activities — Facilitating trainee involvement in improvement projects that reduce downtime and defects.
Standardization — Developing and enforcing standard work for routine mechanical tasks and TPM checklists.

Top Candidates Will Have

Previous experience in maintenance and leadership
Foundry Experience
Mechanical background or mechanical engineering degree

Additional Information

This position is in Mapleton, IL Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. A closer look into the Mapleton Facility here.

Final details

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.

Summary Pay Range

$89,210.00 - $133,810.00 Compensation 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

This position requires working onsite five days a week. Relocation is available for this position. Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates

Any 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. Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.