Principal Robotics Platform Architect

Caterpillar Inc.•Irving, TX

3d•$159,120 - $258,570•Onsite

About The Position

Caterpillar is hiring a Principal Robotics Platform Architect to define and deliver the end-to-end software architecture for its robotics platform. The role owns the software foundation used by robotics and autonomy teams, including middleware, runtime, inter-process communication, platform services, and compute architecture for autonomous machines. The platform is intended to help teams build and deploy capabilities across products, fleets, and jobsites. The architect works across autonomy, controls, machine learning, simulation, and data engineering teams. They establish standards, APIs, and reference designs that enable teams to build and deploy faster and share common software. The role also defines onboard, edge, and cloud compute architecture and the real-time execution model used by production machines. The position is based onsite at Caterpillar’s Irving, Texas (Dallas) office five days per week. Domestic relocation assistance and visa sponsorship are available for eligible applicants. The listed summary pay range is $159,120 to $258,570.

Requirements

Knowledge of technologies and methods for designing processing mechanisms and roadmaps for business application systems, and ability to design roadmaps and deploy supporting interfaces in accordance with standards and processes.
Knowledge of application design and architecture principles and practices, and ability to turn business requirements and logical models into technical application designs.
Knowledge of analytical techniques and tools, including ability to identify root causes and develop alternative solutions.
Knowledge of requirements-analysis tools, methods, and techniques, and ability to elicit, analyze, and document functional and non-functional requirements.
Knowledge of target architecture and ability to develop IT blueprints and roadmaps aligned with business strategies and objectives.
Progressive career in software engineering and architecture focused on robotics or platform software at a senior or principal level.
Strong understanding of Agile SDLC implementation in a public cloud ecosystem, including environment management, test automation, peer review, CI/CD, and resource optimization.
Excellent communication skills and ability to address sensitive issues, mentor and coach others, and persuade others regarding technologies, applications, or potential solutions.

Nice To Haves

Strong experience architecting robot software platforms, including middleware, runtime, inter-process communication, and platform services such as ROS 2 or DDS, for multiple teams building and deploying autonomous machines.
Experience defining onboard, edge, and cloud compute architecture, real-time execution, and resource management for production robotic or autonomous systems, including GPU or accelerated compute and containerized deployment.
Demonstrated ability to define APIs, reference designs, and standards that enable autonomy, machine learning, controls, and simulation teams and promote platform consistency.
Deep understanding of how perception, planning, controls, and machine platforms integrate at the software layer to deliver reliable autonomous behavior, and ability to guide teams through complex system-design decisions.
Ability to influence senior leaders, define architectural roadmaps, establish standards and patterns, govern technology decisions, and provide technical direction across multiple engineering organizations without direct authority.

Responsibilities

Develop detailed architecture deliverables to solve business problems.
Design application technical infrastructure, including databases, programming languages, utilities, and testing approaches.
Lead evaluation and deployment of technologies that add to or enhance existing digital technical capabilities.
Address application business requirements and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver digital solutions that meet business results.
Define and deliver the end-to-end software architecture for Caterpillar’s robotics platform, including middleware, runtime, inter-process communication, platform services, and compute architecture.
Establish platform standards, APIs, and reference designs for teams working in autonomy, controls, machine learning, simulation, and data.
Define onboard, edge, and cloud compute architecture and the real-time execution model for production machines.
Guide architectural roadmaps, standards, technology decisions, and technical direction across engineering organizations.