Senior UX Manager – Machine In Cab Displays

Caterpillar Inc.•Peoria, IL

About The Position

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc. When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it. Senior UX Manager – Machine In‑Cab Displays Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc. Cat Digital is the digital and technology arm of Caterpillar Inc., leveraging the latest technologies to build industry leading digital solutions for our customers and dealers. With over 1.5 million connected assets worldwide, our teams use data, technology, advanced analytics, telematics, and AI capabilities to help our customers build a better, more sustainable world. Job Summary: Drive the strategic vision and hands‑on execution of in‑cab user experiences for connected machines across Retail Equipment, Construction, Mining, and Energy and Power platforms. This role champions operator‑centered, safety‑critical, and environment‑aware design, delivering intuitive embedded interfaces that perform reliably in demanding real‑world conditions. As Senior UX Manager, you will lead cross‑product UX strategy for in‑cab displays and HMI systems, guide teams through complex hardware and embedded software constraints, and collaborate closely with engineering, product, industrial design, and safety partners to ensure experiences are usable, accessible, compliant, and aligned with core business objectives.

Requirements

Creativity Expertise in applying creative thinking to complex, real‑world, and safety-constrained problems.
Extensive Experience: Balances innovation with reliability, safety, and operational practicality Challenges legacy industrial and embedded interface patterns Encourages experimentation within production and compliance constraints Learns from field insights and iterative validation Finds new ways to simplify complex machine interactions
Organizational Leadership Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and align UX vision across platforms and products.
Extensive Experience: Manages and mentors UX designers supporting embedded and in‑cab experiences Applies situational leadership based on system maturity and risk profile Coaches teams to deliver production‑ready, safety‑aware designs Translates UX vision into clear roadmaps and execution plans Uses emotional intelligence to influence cross‑functional partners Establishes clear roles, expectations, standards, and accountability
Human‑Centered & Operator‑Centered Design Deep expertise in designing for people operating physical machines in demanding environments.
Extensive Experience: Leads human‑centered design practices tailored to industrial and safety‑critical contexts Defines objectives, scope, timelines, and success metrics for operator experience initiatives Guides agile and iterative workflows to gather operator feedback early and often Oversees prototyping, simulation, and pilot testing in realistic usage scenarios Applies HCD insights to influence product, platform, and system‑level decisions Advises on complex usability, adoption, and safety challenges
User Experience Design – Embedded & In‑Cab Expert in designing intuitive, resilient UX for embedded systems and HMI.
Expert Level: Designs for glanceability, cognitive load, task efficiency, and error prevention Evaluates trade‑offs between usability, safety, performance, and technical constraints Leads UX strategy for fixed‑function displays and configurable operator interfaces Guides information architecture, navigation, alerts, warnings, and system feedback Integrates UX into embedded software development lifecycles Balances operator needs with business, regulatory, and engineering requirements
User Interface Design – Industrial Systems Expertise in crafting durable, readable, and effective interfaces for harsh environments.
Expert Level: Develops UI standards for contrast, typography, iconography, hierarchy, and color usage in safety‑critical contexts Collaborates closely with embedded software, hardware, and industrial design teams Assesses operational and safety impact of UI design decisions Architects scalable design systems across multiple machine platforms Translates emerging HMI and interaction trends into production‑ready specifications
Proven experience leading UX for embedded software, HMI, or system-level digital products
Experience designing for accessibility (A11Y), including consideration of WCAG principles as applied to non-traditional interfaces
Familiarity with safety-critical systems, regulatory considerations, and ISO-aligned design expectations
Experience collaborating with embedded engineering, hardware, and system architecture teams

Nice To Haves

Experience designing for physical machines, automotive systems, or embedded in‑cab displays
Background in construction, mining, power generation, transportation, or other industrial domains
Exposure to ISO standards, safety analysis, or regulated product environments

Responsibilities

Define and lead the UX strategy for in‑cab displays and HMI systems across multiple machine categories and product lines
Own end‑to‑end experience design for embedded, operator‑facing software, from discovery and field research through prototyping, validation, and production release
Translate complex machine data, alerts, and controls into clear, glanceable, and actionable interfaces that support safe operation
Partner with product management, embedded engineering, industrial design, and safety teams to align UX with system capabilities, regulatory requirements, and operator workflows
Establish and evolve UX standards, design systems, and interaction patterns for embedded and in‑cab environments
Champion human‑centered and operator‑centered design, incorporating physical, environmental, and contextual constraints such as vibration, motion, lighting, noise, PPE, and gloves
Advocate for accessibility, usability, and safety‑first design, including validation through testing with operators and field stakeholders
Ensure UX practices align with safety‑critical and compliance expectations, including applicable ISO standards and internal governance
Lead and mentor UX designers, fostering a culture of craftsmanship, inclusion, and continuous improvement
Monitor and evaluate UX effectiveness using field feedback, usability findings, and operational data
Guide platform‑level UX decisions to ensure consistency across machine types while allowing flexibility for specific use cases

Benefits

This position is eligible for stock or other equity grants pursuant to Caterpillar’s long-term incentive plan.
Medical, dental, and vision benefits
Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)
401(k) savings plans
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Health Lifestyle Programs
Employee Assistance Program
Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts
Career Development
Incentive bonus
Disability benefits
Life Insurance
Parental leave
Adoption benefits
Tuition Reimbursement