Principal Robotics Platform Architect

Caterpillar Inc.•Irving, TX

18d•$175,030 - $284,430•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Robotics Platform Architect owns and defines the software foundation that robotics and autonomy teams use to build deployable machines. The role is responsible for the end-to-end architecture of Caterpillar’s robotics platform, including middleware, runtime, inter-process communication, platform services, and compute architecture powering autonomous machines. The architect works across autonomy, controls, machine learning, simulation, and data engineering teams to establish standards, APIs, and reference designs that enable teams to build and deploy faster and share common software. The position also defines onboard, edge, and cloud compute architecture and the real-time execution model used by production machines. The role develops detailed architecture deliverables, designs application technical infrastructure, and leads evaluation and deployment of technologies that enhance digital capabilities. It participates in addressing application business requirements and collaborates with cross-functional teams to deliver digital solutions aligned with business results. The position is based onsite five days per week at Caterpillar’s Irving, Texas office. Domestic relocation assistance is available; visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

Progressive career in software engineering and architecture focused on robotics or platform software, at 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, and persuade others on technologies, applications, or potential solutions.
Knowledge of platform architecture, including designing processing mechanisms and roadmaps for business application systems and deploying supportive interfaces in accordance with standards and processes.
Knowledge of application design and architecture principles and practices, and ability to convert business requirements and logical models into technical application designs.
Analytical thinking skills, including identifying root causes of organizational problems and developing alternative solutions.
Knowledge of requirements analysis tools, methods, and techniques, and ability to elicit, analyze, and record functional and non-functional requirements.
Knowledge of target architecture and ability to develop IT blueprints and roadmaps aligned with business strategies and objectives.

Nice To Haves

Strong experience architecting robot software platforms, including middleware, runtime, inter-process communication, and platform services such as ROS 2 or DDS, used by multiple teams to build and deploy 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 accelerate 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.
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 the evaluation and deployment of new technologies to add to or enhance existing digital technical capabilities.
Address business requirements for applications and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver digital solutions that meet business results.
Define and deliver the end-to-end software architecture of Caterpillar’s robotics platform, including middleware, runtime, inter-process communication, platform services, and compute architecture.
Establish standards, APIs, and reference designs for engineering 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 teams through complex software integration and system design decisions for autonomous systems.
Define architectural roadmaps, establish standards and patterns, govern technology decisions, and provide technical direction across engineering organizations.
Mentor, coach, and influence others regarding technologies, applications, and potential solutions.