Solutions Architect – Planning & Analytics

Caterpillar Inc. • Lafayette, IN

4d • $112,710 - $183,140 • Onsite

About The Position

Power & Energy (P&E) is seeking a Solutions Architect – Planning & Analytics to support the design, integration, and continuous improvement of digital solutions that enable global demand planning, supply planning, capacity planning, and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes across Caterpillar's engine, genset, and power generation businesses. In this role, you will partner with stakeholders across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Sales, Marketing, Planning, and Digital teams to design scalable business solutions that improve planning effectiveness and support data-driven decision-making. You will play a key role in shaping the systems architecture, data strategy, and technology capabilities that support Power & Energy's global planning processes. This position offers significant exposure to enterprise planning initiatives, global stakeholders, and digital transformation efforts while helping drive the future of planning technology within Caterpillar.

Requirements

• Ability to design and support enterprise business systems, digital solutions, and integrated technology platforms.
• Knowledge of solution architecture principles, systems integration, and business process design.
• Ability to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Knowledge of data architecture, data modeling, data governance, and data integration concepts.
• Experience working with large and complex datasets that support operational and business decision-making.
• Ability to support reporting, analytics, and business intelligence capabilities.
• Understanding of planning, forecasting, manufacturing, supply chain, or operational business processes.
• Ability to connect business objectives to digital and technology solutions.
• Strong analytical and systems-thinking capabilities.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to business stakeholders and business requirements to technical teams.
• Ability to influence decisions and drive alignment across multiple functions and geographic regions.
• Ability to support initiatives involving both business and technical stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to evaluate current processes and identify opportunities for efficiency improvements.
• Demonstrated curiosity, innovation, and commitment to continuous learning.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)
• Understanding of Demand Planning
• Understanding of Supply Planning
• Understanding of Capacity Planning
• Understanding of Network Planning & Execution (NPE)
• Experience supporting manufacturing, industrial, supply chain, or operational environments.
• Knowledge of Power & Energy products, including: Engines, Gensets, Power Generation Systems
• Experience supporting enterprise planning systems, forecasting platforms, or integrated business solutions.
• Familiarity with Data Modeling
• Familiarity with SQL
• Familiarity with Python
• Familiarity with R
• Familiarity with Power BI
• Familiarity with Tableau
• Familiarity with Cloud-based data platforms
• Experience supporting AI, machine learning, predictive analytics, or advanced planning capabilities.
• Experience driving digital transformation, automation, and process improvement initiatives.
• Experience supporting global business operations and cross-functional decision-making.
• Ability to influence technical direction and lead architecture discussions across multiple stakeholder groups.

Responsibilities

• Design and support scalable business solutions that enable demand planning, supply planning, capacity planning, and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) activities.
• Translate business requirements into sustainable system architectures and digital solutions.
• Partner with business stakeholders to evaluate current-state processes and identify opportunities for technology-enabled improvements.
• Support architecture decisions related to planning systems, data integration, reporting environments, and analytics capabilities.
• Establish solution design principles, architecture standards, and governance practices that support scalability and long-term sustainability.
• Design and maintain data models, information structures, and data flows that support enterprise planning processes.
• Support data governance, data quality, and master data management initiatives that improve planning accuracy and consistency.
• Enable the integration and management of large and complex datasets from multiple business systems and operational environments.
• Help establish scalable frameworks that support reporting, analytics, predictive modeling, and AI-enabled planning capabilities.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Sales, Marketing, Planning, and Digital teams to understand business priorities and operational challenges.
• Serve as a trusted advisor, balancing business needs and technical considerations when recommending solutions.
• Present architecture recommendations, risks, and solution strategies to stakeholders and leadership teams.
• Drive alignment across functions and geographic regions to support enterprise planning objectives.
• Support Power & Energy Network Planning & Execution (NPE) initiatives, including: Demand Planning, Supply Planning, Capacity Planning, Supplier Planning Signals.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, automate, and optimize planning-related processes.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements that enhance planning capabilities and operational performance.
• Support digital transformation initiatives that improve planning visibility, forecasting effectiveness, and business decision-making.

Benefits

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed