Autonomy Systems Engineer

Caterpillar Inc.•Irving, TX

2d•$97,530 - $158,480•Onsite

About The Position

This role contributes to the definition, design, integration, and validation of operator safety systems across Caterpillar automation and autonomy solutions. The Systems Engineer applies established systems engineering practices to develop reliable, field-ready safety system capabilities that help protect operators, bystanders, and equipment in demanding mining and construction environments. Working collaboratively with cross-functional engineering, product, test, and operations teams, this role supports system architecture definition, requirements development, interface management, integration planning, and verification activities for operator-facing safety technologies. Our CAT Technology Automation and Autonomy teams are focused on advancing practical automation and autonomy solutions for harsh production environments found on mining and construction jobsites. The Operator Safety Systems team develops technologies that support safe operation around people, machines, and jobsite hazards, including sensing, monitoring, alerting, intervention, and system behaviors that reduce operational risk. Operator presence, awareness, and monitoring systems Cameras, sensors, perception inputs, and machine interfaces that support operator safety Safety-related system behaviors, alerts, and intervention concepts Integration of operator safety features with autonomy, remote control, and site technology solutions Field-ready safety solutions for mining, construction, quarry, surface, and underground applications

Requirements

Demonstrated experience developing and managing system requirements, interfaces, architecture, and verification strategies for complex electro-mechanical, embedded, autonomy, or machine systems.
Experience translating operational needs and safety-related scenarios into clear system behaviors, technical requirements, and integration plans across multi-team development environments.
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.
Knowledge of structured product development practices; ability to manage requirements, design inputs, verification activities, issue resolution, and change impacts throughout the lifecycle of operator safety system features.
Knowledge of verification and validation methods; ability to define testable requirements, develop verification plans, support lab and machine testing, evaluate results, and confirm system behavior meets stated needs in realistic operating conditions.
Knowledge of requirements, architecture, issue tracking, and test management tools; ability to use these tools to maintain traceability, manage change, communicate technical intent, and support cross-functional execution.
Knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools, and techniques; ability to anticipate, recognize, and resolve technical issues involving machine operation, sensors, embedded software, hardware, applications, and operator-facing system behavior.
Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field – or commensurate industry experience.

Nice To Haves

Proven experience as a Systems Engineer on operator safety, autonomy, embedded, machine control, or electro-mechanical product development programs
Hands-on experience with Jama for requirements development, traceability, review workflows, change impact analysis, and verification evidence is a strong differentiator for top candidates
Experience developing safety-related system requirements and supporting integration, verification, and validation efforts across hardware, software, and sensing components
Experience with cameras, sensors, perception inputs, operator monitoring, proximity awareness, or driver assistance technologies preferred
Background in autonomy, robotics, remote control, human-machine interaction, or safety-critical machine systems
Ability to connect jobsite operating scenarios with clear system behaviors, measurable requirements, and practical verification strategies
Construction, mining, heavy equipment, or Caterpillar product experience preferred

Responsibilities

Develop, manage, and maintain system-level requirements for operator safety system capabilities, interfaces, and behaviors
Define system architectures, operating concepts, use cases, interfaces, and functional allocations across software, hardware, sensing, and machine control components
Use Jama or similar requirements management tools to establish traceability between needs, requirements, design decisions, verification evidence, and field learnings
Support integration, verification, and validation planning for operator safety features across lab, machine, proving ground, and customer-site environments
Collaborate with software, hardware, controls, test, product, and field teams to deliver cohesive safety system solutions
Analyze hazards, operational scenarios, edge cases, and system interactions to drive clear technical decisions and risk-informed trade-offs
Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues that span machine operation, sensing, software behavior, operator interaction, and environmental conditions
Create and maintain systems engineering artifacts including requirements, architecture descriptions, interface definitions, verification plans, and technical decision records