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NPI Team Leader

Caterpillar · Mossville, IL · $128,470–$192,710 a year · Full time

Posted Oct 5, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you led an engineering team through a tough technical setback.

What they are checking: Whether they keep a team focused and moving when a program hits trouble.

Tell me about a time you had to tell leadership a program was going to be late.

What they are checking: Whether they deliver bad news early and honestly with a recovery plan.

How do you build a strong team culture when people come from different engineering functions?

What they are checking: Whether they can create shared ownership across design, test and manufacturing engineers.

How do you develop the engineers who report to you?

What they are checking: Whether they invest in growing people, a core part of leading a team over years.

What would you do

How do you balance schedule, cost and quality when they pull against each other on a program?

What they are checking: Their leadership judgment on tradeoffs that every NPI program faces.

An engineer on your team is missing deadlines. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they find the cause and address it fairly, balancing support with accountability.

How would you use customer feedback in designing a new large engine or power system?

What they are checking: Whether they keep customer needs at the center, which Caterpillar names as its priority.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd lead a new product introduction from concept to production in Large Power Systems.

What they are checking: Their understanding of the NPI process, including stage gates and readiness for production.

How do you make sure manufacturing and suppliers are ready when the design is released?

What they are checking: Whether they plan for production readiness early, not just design completion.

What tools do you use to track risks and progress on a complex program?

What they are checking: Their program management habits, like risk registers, schedules and gate reviews.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Caterpillar.

Career Area: Engineering 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. Your Work Shapes the World Whether it is groundbreaking products, best in class solutions or creating a lifelong career, you can do the work that matters at Caterpillar. With 100 years of legacy of quality and innovation and 150 locations in countries around the world, your impact spans the globe. When you join Caterpillar, you are joining a team of makers, innovators, and doers. We are the people who roll up our sleeves and do the work to build a better world. We don’t just talk about progress and innovation. We make it happen. And we are proud of that, because it helps our customers build and power the world we live in – the roads, hospitals, homes, and infrastructure. Without a dedicated workforce, Caterpillar could not effectively meet our customers’ needs. Join us. Role Definition: The Large Power Systems Division currently has an opening for an NPI/L5 Team Leader in the Aftertreatment and Exhaust Systems (AT&ES) team. This position will be focused on high-paced, concurrent product development for one of the fastest growing areas of Caterpillar’s business. Collaboration across global engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing teams will be required, and process rigor will be maintained via New Production Introduction (NPI), New Technology Introduction (NTI), New Market Introduction (NMI), and New Source Introduction (NSI). What you will do: • Lead Gateway reviews for new and in-flight NPI, NTI, NMI, and NSI programs from initial GWL through post-production GW7 • Ensure readiness of GW deliverables for manufacturing, supply chain, design, cost, and program budget • Act as the integration point between L6 Product Groups and L4 AT&ES technical leads to align on program requirements • Manage and track against detailed project plans for budget, schedule, and resource requirements • Identify program risks and tradeoffs and engage the appropriate functional teams to resolve • Develop application expertise for our products, understand their use-case and how they win against the competition Degree Requirement: Bachelors Degree in Engineering or equal experience desired What you will have: Planning: Tactical, Strategic: Extensive knowledge of effective planning techniques and ability to contribute to operational (short term), tactical (1-2 years) and strategic (3-5 years) planning in support of the overall business plan. Products and Services: Working knowledge of major products and services and product and service groups; ability to apply knowledge of product and service appropriately to diverse situations. Quality Management: Working knowledge of quality management methods, tools and techniques and ability to create and support an environment that meets the quality goals of the organization. Effective Communications: Extensive 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. 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. Program Management: Extensive knowledge of the policies and techniques to manage a set of related projects within a program; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control the set of projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve program objectives. Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Working knowledge of design for manufacturability guidelines, methodologies, and use cases; ability to use this knowledge to optimize product designs and manufacturing operations. Top Candidates Will Also Have: • Ability to work multiple high-paced, complex projects concurrently and drive them to timely resolution • Aftertreatment-specific design, test, validation, or manufacturing experience • NPI/L5 Team Lead experience • Experienced collaboration with L6 product groups and/or L4 system integration teams Additional Information: • Travel requirements may be up to 15% - Domestic and International • This can be located in Mossville, IL • Domestic relocation is available • Sponsorship is NOT available for this role Final Details: Please ensure you frequently sign in to your candidate home for any updates or correspondence for positions that you have applied for. https://cat.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/CaterpillarCareers . Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers. EEO/AA Employer. All qualified individuals - Including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities - are encouraged to apply. This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of “essential job functions” as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Summary Pay Range: $128,470.00 - $192,710.00 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: October 5, 2026 - October 7, 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. Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community .

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