Principal Robotics Platform Architect

Caterpillar•Irving, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Caterpillar is hiring a Principal Robotics Platform Architect to define and deliver the end-to-end software architecture of 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 architect establishes standards, APIs, and reference designs so teams can build and deploy more quickly and share common software infrastructure. The position defines onboard, edge, and cloud compute architecture and the real-time execution model used by production machines. It works across autonomy, controls, machine learning, simulation, and data engineering teams to support systems that scale across products, fleets, and jobsites. The role is based full-time onsite at Caterpillar’s Irving, Texas office, five days per week. Domestic relocation assistance and visa sponsorship are available. The listed summary pay range is $159,120 to $258,570; compensation may vary based on factors including job level, location, skills, performance, and experience.

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 handle sensitive issues, mentor and coach others, and persuade others regarding new 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, including converting business requirements and logical models into technical application designs.
Knowledge of analytical techniques and tools, including determining root causes and developing alternative solutions.
Knowledge of requirements analysis tools and methods, including eliciting, analyzing, and recording 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 software-layer integration among perception, planning, controls, and machine platforms 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 the evaluation and deployment of new technologies to add or enhance 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 robotics platform’s end-to-end software architecture, including middleware, runtime, inter-process communication, platform services, and compute architecture.
Define onboard, edge, and cloud compute architecture and the real-time execution model for production machines.
Establish standards, APIs, and reference designs that enable engineering teams to build and deploy faster and share common software.
Provide architectural direction across autonomy, controls, machine learning, simulation, and data teams.