Lead Internal Auditor

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.

The Lead Auditor performs process quality assessments to track, analyze, and report on materials, processes, and products to ensure conformance to company quality standards, regulatory and certification requirements. This role supports the CQMS internal auditing program under ISO9001/CQMS Clause 9.2 and indirectly supports 3rd party marine certification activities for Aftertreatment products while driving continuous improvement. Onsite presence at Caterpillar Lafayette IN is required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct process audits aligned with quality system documentation to ensure compliance with CQMS and ISO 9001:2015 requirements embedded in CQMS.
• Conduct process audits; gather, analyze, and communicate audit findings to process owners and management.
• Maintain an annual internal audit schedule; update monthly and align with current Value Stream / Small Business Team needs and data.
• Ensure every CQMS / ISO 9001 Clause within the scope of the audit program is audited at least once annually in accordance with CQMS Procedure 9.2.
• Participate in and provide technical support for internal and external audits; act as secondary contact for CQMS Clause 9.2 audit activities and 3rd party marine certification interactions.
• Initiate and facilitate timely closure of Corrective Actions (CARs) per CQMS Procedure 10.2.
• Incorporate PCA effectiveness checks into the audit schedule to verify sustainability of corrective measures.
• Interact with manufacturing and cross-functional teams to determine root cause of quality issues and ensure corrective and preventive actions are implemented and verified.

Education Requirements:

• Related bachelor's degree, associate's degree, or equivalent auditing experience.

Minimum Requirements

• Experience with maintaining, auditing or managing compliance of manufacturing quality standards

Top Candidates will have :

• Experience coordinating and maintaining an Internal Audit program when required to achieve 3rd party certification.
• Experience supporting accredited certification bodies and regulatory requirements.
• Familiarity with Caterpillar's value stream certification program.
• Strong experience with CQMS / ISO 9001:2015 auditing, corrective action management (process-approach), and management review facilitation.

Competencies:

Quality Management: Working knowledge of quality management methods, tools, and techniques; creates and supports an environment that meets organizational quality goals.

• Utilizes quality indicators relevant to own unit or function.
• Use Key Process Indicators (KPIs) and risk prioritizing and driving the internal audit schedule.
• Adheres to organizational quality management processes and CQMS/ISO requirements.
• Apply continuous improvement principles (PDCA) and evaluate their impact on quality.
• Understands and applies both Quality Assurance and Quality Control methods, tools, and techniques.

Attention to Detail: Demonstrates accuracy and precision in auditing, data collection, and report writing.

Collaboration: Works effectively in cross-functional teams and facilitates cooperative problem-solving.

Flexibility and Adaptability: Adjusts to new assignments, processes, and people; listens to other opinions; shifts between tasks; considers alternative approaches; and accepts new ideas with an open mind.

Problem-Solving: Basic understanding of disciplined problem-solving approaches; describes reporting and escalation practices; applies accepted procedures for analysis and resolution; and identifies key techniques used in their area.

Manufacturing Standards, Procedures and Policies: Working knowledge to plan, guide, and monitor manufacturing processes for compliance; contributes to development and implementation, escalates exceptions, explains local procedure rationale, and provides feedback for improvement.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Working knowledge of RCA techniques (e.g., flowcharts, fishbone diagrams) to investigate problems, identify causal factors and behaviors/conditions to change, extract lessons learned, and iteratively implement and verify corrective actions.

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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:
July 8, 2026 - July 23, 2026

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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