Instrumentation Manager - Building Construction Products

Caterpillar · Clayton · $128,470–$192,710 (stated in the posting)

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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 Summary

Lead the instrumentation capability that powers Caterpillar’s next generation of construction equipment. As Instrumentation Manager for the Building Construction Products (BCP) Product Development–West Test Team in North Carolina, you will shape instrumentation strategy, technical capability, resources, and team development, ensuring safe, efficient test preparation and accurate, reliable measurement data from concept through customer delivery.

 
You will lead a team of instrumentation technicians across the Clayton Machine Development Center (CMDC) and Sanford Machine Development Center (SMDC), overseeing workload planning, equipment readiness, calibration, quality systems, process standardization, and technology development. Partnering closely with test and development engineers, operations, facilities, quality, and EHS teams, you will support New Product Introduction (NPI) and Current Product Improvement (CPI) programs. You will also build a unified cross-site operating model and drive continuous improvement in safety, 5S, measurement quality, equipment uptime, setup efficiency, and responsiveness to internal customers. 

What You Will Do (Job Duties)

• Lead, coach, and develop instrumentation technicians across CMDC and SMDC by setting clear expectations, prioritizing work, and supporting onboarding, mentoring, skills growth, and performance.

• Plan instrumentation workload, setup schedules, bay space, equipment availability, and cross-site resource sharing to keep product-development priorities on track.

• Standardize instrumentation methods, documentation, naming conventions, calibration, data verification, troubleshooting, and issue resolution to deliver safe, accurate, and repeatable results.

• Manage sensors, data acquisition systems, calibration status, inventory, and related equipment to ensure test readiness.

• Own ISO 17025 and quality-system compliance, including calibration, measurement traceability, documentation, and operational controls.

• Proactively communicate resource constraints, equipment concerns, schedule risks, and data-quality issues to internal customers and partners.

• Build and maintain standard work, training materials, onboarding plans, skills matrices, troubleshooting guides, and technical references.

• Drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, test readiness, setup efficiency, equipment uptime, resource utilization, technical capability, and cross-site integration.

• Plan capital and expense investments for sensors, data acquisition systems, calibration tools, test equipment, and technology upgrades, and coordinate procurement and supplier support.

• Turn lessons learned into lasting process, training, and technical improvements. 

What You Have (Core Skills)

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, or an associate degree in a technical field with 6+ years of experience in testing, validation, or product development.

• Technical Excellence: Strong working knowledge of sensors, instrumentation, data acquisition, calibration, measurement traceability, test setup, troubleshooting, and data verification.

• People Leadership: Experience leading, coaching, and developing technicians or technical support teams through delegation, feedback, performance support, and capability building.

• Planning and Decisions: Balance daily execution with long-term capability needs, using data, risk, resource availability, issue history, and stakeholder input to set priorities.

• Problem Solving: Effectively resolve equipment downtime, setup issues, sensor failures, calibration concerns, data-quality problems, and operational constraints.

• Customer Focus and Communication: Build strong relationships, communicate clearly, adapt to shifting priorities, respond with urgency, and escalate risks appropriately.

• Project Management and Collaboration: Experience delivering technical projects across locations and functions while managing cost, schedule, resources, risks, and stakeholder actions.

Top Candidates Will Have

• Leadership experience in product development, testing, instrumentation, manufacturing, laboratory, or engineering support environments.

• Hands-on test experience with construction or agricultural equipment, including machines, systems, components, attachments, or work tools.

• Experience with DEWESoft, HBM/HBK eDAQ, or comparable instrumentation and data acquisition platforms.

• Familiarity with LENS, inventory and calibration management systems, Validation Manager Workflow, Power BI, or similar tools.

• Demonstrated expertise in ISO 17025 implementation and compliance, with extensive experience in measurement uncertainty, verification, calibration traceability, and controlled test documentation.

• A track record of standardizing work, developing technical training, and leading process alignment and change across multiple sites. 

• Extensive experience managing instrumentation assets, capital investments, and technology refresh strategies, including evaluating new measurement technologies for accuracy, traceability, reliability, and fit-for-purpose application.

• Demonstrated results improving safety, quality, readiness, efficiency, data consistency, or internal customer satisfaction. 

• Knowledge of construction equipment hydraulics, engines, drivetrains, electrical systems, controls, software, or telematics. 
   

Additional Information 

• This role is based in Clayton, NC or Sanford, NC with time split between both sites. 

• Relocation assistance is available. 

• Sponsorship and ISE assignments are not available. 

• Domestic or international travel of up to 10% may be required. 

• This is a fully on-site role, Monday through Friday, working across office, laboratory, shop, and outdoor test-field environments. 

• Must be comfortable working safely around prototype and production construction equipment and adapting to evolving product-development priorities. 

• Must be able to lift up to 35 lb. 

Summary Pay Range:

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

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.

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