Senior System Engineer
About The Position
The Senior System Engineer will specify, design, and integrate future machine control systems for earthmoving and paving machines, including excavators, bulldozers, and graders. The role is part of Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies (CTCT), a joint venture between Trimble and Caterpillar that develops positioning, control, and automation products for construction and mining applications. The position works with marketing, multidisciplinary engineering teams, and machine OEMs to develop innovative, high-quality products. The engineer applies practical electrical, software, and mechanical engineering knowledge to define system architecture and dependent systems. The role involves translating requirements into product strategy and technical direction, collaborating across disciplines in ambiguous situations, and sometimes leading engineering teams through influence. It also includes providing technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and technicians. The position is based in Dayton, Ohio, and requires less than 25% travel, including international travel.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechatronics, or a related field.
- At least 5 years of experience working in embedded product development.
- At least 3 years of experience developing functionally safe products.
- Familiarity with system design, application-level problem solving, system architectures, CAN networks, and machine integration.
- Electronics experience, including the ability to understand and develop system diagrams and schematics.
- Experience designing and interfacing with vehicular communication and control systems.
- Knowledge of electronic hardware and software product development processes and tools.
- Demonstrated application of functional safety principles and practices to product development.
- Experience contributing to product risk assessments, FMEAs, and FMEDAs.
- Technical leadership skills, using influence and experience to achieve goals.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to write technical specifications and present to customers and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a global team.
Nice To Haves
- Experience designing machine control systems.
- Familiarity with the functions and use of construction or agriculture machinery.
- Deep understanding of industry standards such as ISO 19014, ISO 13849, IEC 61508, and ISO 26262.
- Ability to reconcile functional and regulatory product requirements and translate them into detailed engineering requirements.
- Expertise in analog electronics and exposure to digital electronic circuit design and risk-mitigation strategies.
- Experience developing and managing organizational standards and processes.
- Proven experience with inertial measurement units (IMUs), particularly accelerometers and gyroscopes.
Responsibilities
- Create earthmoving and paving machine control system designs.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create and apply system architectures, product designs, and verification plans.
- Contribute to product safety concepts and architectures.
- Assist in decomposing product system and safety requirements into subsystem requirements.
- Coordinate with cross-functional engineering teams on V-model execution.
- Support electronics hardware component selection and design to ensure system needs are met.
- Define machine control networks, including layout, system usage, security, and messaging.
- Define communication interfaces, including electrical implementation, bus-loading analyses, and messaging protocols.
- Participate in product safety assessments, including hazard and risk analyses, DFMEA, FMEDA, PFMEA, and common-cause failure analysis.
- Lead resolution of complex technical problems and provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and technicians.
- Work with marketing, multidisciplinary engineering teams, and machine OEMs to develop products.
- Travel, including internationally, less than 25% of the time.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Disability benefits
- Time-off plans
- Retirement plans
- Tax savings plans for health, dependent care, and commuter expenses (offered by most businesses)
- Paid parental leave
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Bonus eligibility
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
