Automation Engineering Specialist

Caterpillar Inc.•Mossville, IL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Cat Technology collaborates with partners across the Caterpillar enterprise to advance technologies including autonomy and automation, which helps enhance site safety, productivity and efficiency across customer operations worldwide. Cat Technology also owns enterprise-wide initiatives in innovation, research and development, manufacturing automation and advanced materials, ensuring Caterpillar continues to lead the industry in technological excellence and engineering innovation. The Automation Engineering Specialist applies seasoned engineering judgment to design, integrate, and validate electronic control systems for Caterpillar mining machines fitted with an autonomy solution. The role works independently within defined technical objectives and contributes to system-level integration decisions for both current production platforms and next-generation electronic architectures. The engineer collaborates across machine systems, electronics, and software teams to deliver integrated robust, production-ready autonomy solutions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science
Knowledge of effective presentation tools and techniques to ensure clear understanding; ability to use summarization and simplification techniques to explain complex technical concepts in simple, clear language appropriate to the audience.
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.
Knowledge of effective self-management practices; ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.
Knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.
Knowledge of the importance of "big picture" thinking and planning; ability to apply organizational acumen and competitiveness to identify and maintain focus on key success factors for the organization.
Knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to use these to deepen own expertise and impact or challenge decisions within and outside own organization.
Knowledge of software product design; ability to convert market requirements into the software product design.
Knowledge of the concepts, technologies and methodologies of artificial intelligence (AI); ability to develop, implement and/or apply artificial intelligence products and services in specific industry domain to achieve business goals.

Nice To Haves

Typically, 5–10 years of embedded control systems development experience
Demonstrated hands-on experience with electrical and electronic control systems
Experience developing machine control requirements and system specifications
Experience with CAN, J1939, and related data link communications
Understanding of mobile machine operation, preferably in construction or mining equipment applications
Experience with CAN, J1939, and Ethernet development and analysis tools
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information to diverse audiences
Mechanical aptitude and working knowledge of Caterpillar machine electrical and electronic systems
Experience with MATLAB/Simulink modeling in embedded software environments
Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation and validation processes
Familiarity with software configuration management tools such as Git or ClearCase
Experience developing embedded real-time systems for off-highway, industrial, or mobile applications
Experience with FMEA processes and understanding of electronic system failure modes

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain technical specifications and integration documentation for autonomous machine electronic systems, including ECMs, software, and networked components
Resolve system design and integration issues by working closely with machine system and subsystem teams during development and production phases
Support software release planning and execution, including required documentation for field updates, wiring changes, and component updates
Communicate technical status, risks, and integration readiness in gateway and stakeholder reviews
Coordinate assigned software development and integration activities to ensure schedule, quality, and technical requirements are met
Develop and execute test plans and support system and software validation activities, including lab and machine-level testing