Principal Software Engineer - Java

Caterpillar Brazil; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in Bangalore seeks a Principal Software Engineer - Java to drive modernization of legacy Java/J2EE applications into cloud-native microservices on AWS. You will define architecture patterns, guide implementation, and ensure scalable, data-driven solutions across platforms.

You will mentor engineers, lead POCs, and collaborate with DevOps for CI/CD and containerization, influencing global teams with strong communication and design excellence.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of software engineering experience.
• Proven hands-on development with Java/J2EE and microservices.
• Strong expertise in architecture, design patterns, OOD.
• Experience modernizing legacy enterprise apps to cloud-native.
• Proficiency with Spring, REST/JSON, and distributed systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead modernization initiatives across Helios platforms.
• Define target architecture patterns and design principles for modernization efforts.
• Drive POCs to evaluate new technologies and drive adoption across teams.
• Mentor engineers on low-level design, OO design, and best practices.
• Collaborate with DevOps for CI/CD, containerization, and deployment readiness.
• Lead architecture and design reviews, and enforce coding standards.
• Partner with cross-functional and global teams to influence engineering decisions.

Skills

Java/J2EE

Software architecture

Leadership

Mentoring

Cloud-native / AWS

Microservices

REST APIs

CI/CD

Kubernetes

SQL/NoSQL

Tools

Git

Maven

Docker

Kubernetes

PostgreSQL

NoSQL

Job description

## Principal Software Engineer - JavaApply: Bangalore, Karnataka: Full time: Posted Today: R0000381490**Career Area:**Technology, Digital and Data**Job Description:****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.**Key Responsibilities*** Lead and contribute to strategic modernization initiatives across Helios platforms, including transformation of legacy Java/J2EE applications to cloud-native(AWS) and scalable architectures* Guide implementation approach for modernization initiatives, ensuring alignment between architecture intent and delivery execution* Define and guide target architecture patterns and design principles for modernization efforts* Drive experiments and proof-of-concepts (POCs) to evaluate new technologies, frameworks, and architectural patterns, enabling data-driven technology decisions* Translate successful POCs into scalable, production-ready solutions and drive adoption across teams* Influence engineering practices, standards, and architectural decisions across the broader Helios development community* Lead architecture and design reviews, and code reviews, enforcing coding standards, best practices, and maintainable design patterns* Mentor and coach engineers on low-level design, object-oriented design, and modern software engineering practices, elevating overall engineering capability* Deep-dive into complex legacy modules, identifying constraints, and proposing optimal modernization or refactoring strategies* Partner with DevOps and platform teams to ensure build, release, deployment readiness, and adoption of modern CI/CD and containerization practices* Identify and drive opportunities to embed AI and automation into engineering workflows, improving developer productivity, quality, and delivery speed**Required Skills & Experience*** **10+ years of experience** in software engineering, including strong hands-on development and technical leadership experience* Proven experience in Java/J2EE-based application development, including leading design and delivery of scalable services* Strong expertise in software architecture, design patterns, object-oriented design, and low-level design principles* Experience modernizing legacy enterprise applications and transitioning to microservices-based architectures* Hands-on experience with Spring frameworks, REST/JSON APIs, and distributed system design* Comprehensive knowledge of database technologies, including Postgres, SQL, and NoSQL, with proven ability to design, optimize, and troubleshoot data solutions.* Strong experience with data access technologies (JPA/Hibernate/JDBC)* Experience with testing frameworks (e.g., JUnit) and building high-quality, testable software* Proficiency with Git (branching, merging, tagging), Maven or equivalent build tools, and strong debugging skills* Experience leading or contributing to POCs, innovation initiatives, or modernization programs* Strong experience working with cross-functional and global teams, influencing without direct authority* Excellent technical communication, mentoring, and stakeholder engagement skills* Experience with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker) and working with DevOps/CI-CD pipelines* Solid understanding of Kubernetes for orchestration of containerized applications* Experience working with software systems in autonomous vehicles, mining, construction, or similar industrial domains* Understanding of onboard (machine) and offboard (cloud/office) system architectures and their integration in distributed autonomy platforms* Familiarity with communication protocols and networking concepts used in distributed systems (e.g., TCP/IP, messaging systems, telemetry pipelines)* Experience designing or integrating systems involving machine-to-cloud or edge-to-cloud communication