Director Digital Architecture - Robotics

Caterpillar Inc.; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 189,000 - 284,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid time off plan

401(k) savings plan

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in Irving, TX seeks a Director of Digital Architecture – Robotics to lead the architecture for autonomous machines, define standards, and accelerate development across AI, perception, controls, and onboard computing.

You will drive rapid prototyping, establish best practices, manage projects, and deliver reusable autonomy capabilities that improve safety and productivity on real jobsites. The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration with engineering teams, and delivering

Qualifications

• Analytical thinking with ability to identify root causes and propose solutions.
• Expert data architecture knowledge to design data resource blueprints.
• Strong communication skills to collaborate with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead rapid prototyping and evaluation of autonomy, robotics, and Physical AI capabilities with engineering teams through pilots and PoCs.
• Develop strategies, processes, and best practices for architecture activities.
• Provide expert guidance and resolve complex architecture challenges.

Skills

Analytical Thinking

Data Architecture

Effective Communications

Organizational Leadership

Platform Architecture

Job description

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.

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.

Help Build the Future of Caterpillar

At Caterpillar, technology always has a purpose, which is to solve our customers’ toughest challenges. Through Cat Technology, we are solving problems by building the intelligence layer that connects machines, data, and people to make jobsites safer, more productive, and more sustainable. By combining deep domain expertise in physical systems with software, connectivity, autonomy, and AI, we deliver solutions that work in the real world—on real jobsites, at global scale.

You’ll build and deploy against one of the most unique data foundations—over 1.6 million connected assets generating real-world data daily. These data and platform capabilities are enabling the development of AI models, edge computing architectures, and software systems that scale across fleets, products, and industries. The result will be a new generation of machines that continuously learn, improve, and deliver performance at scale.

Be Part of What’s Next in Autonomous Construction Sites

Construction autonomy is one of the most complex challenges in applied AI, and at Caterpillar, advancements in physical AI, simulation, sensing, and edge computing are turning things that once felt impossible—intelligent machines operating in dynamic jobsites—into reality. Our connected ecosystem brings together massive volumes of high-quality data to create a foundation where engineers like you can build and deploy against. If this work motivates you, we invite you to join our team. In these roles, you’ll work at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds. You’ll help design and deliver intelligent systems that enable machines to perceive their environment, make informed decisions, and support safer, more productive operations.

The Director, Digital Architecture – Robotics

This role leads the team responsible for delivering the architectural capabilities that enable autonomous machines to safely, reliably, and efficiently operate in real-world environments. The leader defines the architecture, technical standards, and implementation patterns for robotics platforms, autonomy systems, controls, machine integration, and onboard computing, ensuring that intelligent decisions generated by AI and perception systems can be translated into effective machine actions. The role is accountable for advancing the organization’s autonomy roadmap through scalable architecture, rapid prototyping of emerging capabilities, and close partnership with engineering teams to accelerate development, reduce technical risk, and enable the deployment of next-generation autonomous and Physical AI solutions. Success in this role is measured by the organization’s ability to deliver robust, reusable, and production-ready autonomy capabilities that improve safety, productivity, and operational performance across autonomous machine platforms.

What You Will Do

• Lead the rapid prototyping and evaluation of emerging autonomy, robotics, and Physical AI capabilities, partnering with engineering teams to validate new technologies, architectures, and concepts through proof-of-concepts, pilot programs, and experimental platforms that accelerate innovation and reduce technical risk
• Developing strategies, processes, methodologies and best practices for architecture activities
• Provide expert advice and resolve complex problems and issues involved in architecture activities
• Manage architecture projects, while focusing on the maintenance of customer relationships and various resources to ensure high-quality deliverables

What You Will Have (Required Skills)

• Analytical Thinking: Expert Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.
• Data Architecture: Expert knowledge of processes, techniques and factors that affect data architecture; ability to design blueprints on how to integrate data resources for business processes and functional support. Ability to utilize design methodologies, tools and techniques to convert business requirements and logical models into a technical design.
• Effective Communications: Expert understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
• Organizational Leadership: Expert knowledge of leadership concepts and ability to use strategies and skills to enlist others in setting, embracing and achieving objectives.
• Platform Architecture: Expert knowledge of technologies and methods to design processing mechanisms and roadmaps to execute business application systems; ability to design these roadmaps and deploy supportive interfaces for end-users to access related systems, in accordance with standards and processes.

Top Candidates Will Also Have (Preferred Skills)

• Robotics & Autonomous Systems Architecture: Deep experience designing architecture for autonomous machines, robotics platforms, and intelligent systems, including how perception, planning, controls, and machine systems work together to deliver safe and reliable autonomous operation
• Controls, Navigation & Machine Integration: Strong understanding of controls architecture, motion planning, navigation, vehicle systems, and machine integration, with the ability to translate autonomy requirements into practical solutions that operate effectively in real-world environments
• Edge Computing & Real-Time Systems: Experience designing onboard computing architectures that support real-time decision making, low-latency processing, high reliability, and integration of AI models, sensors, and control systems within autonomous machines
• Physical AI & Autonomy Platforms: Knowledge of modern Physical AI technologies, robotics frameworks, autonomy platforms, and the interaction between perception, simulation, AI models, and machine execution systems. Experience deploying autonomous capabilities in industrial, construction, mining, manufacturing, or similar environments is highly
• Architecture Leadership & Engineering Influence: Proven ability to lead complex technical initiatives, establish architectural standards and patterns, guide engineering teams through critical design decisions, and align multiple stakeholders around a common autonomy architecture vision
• Rapid Prototyping & Innovation Leadership: Demonstrated ability to quickly evaluate, prototype, and operationalize emerging technologies, translating new autonomy, robotics, AI, and Physical AI concepts into working solutions that prove business value, inform architectural direction, and accelerate adoption of next-generation capabilities
• Progressive career in software engineering and architecture with a focus on data (typically 12years+)
• Demonstratable experience leading technology development for enterprise scale systems in public cloud and hybrid eco-systems
• Team leadership, management and budget responsibility experience (typically 5+ years)

Additional Info

• The primary location for this position is Irving, TX
• Domestic relocation assistance is available for those who qualify
• Sponsorship is not available
• International and Domestic travel up to 25%
• This position is eligible for stock or other equity grants pursuant to Caterpillar’s long-term incentive plan

These benefits also apply to part-time employees

About Caterpillar

For more than a century, Caterpillar has helped build a better, more sustainable world. With 2025 sales and revenues of $67.6 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is shaping the future as the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off‑highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel‑electric locomotives. Backed by one of the largest independent global dealer networks and financing services through Cat Financial, the company’s primary business segments: Power & Energy, Construction Industries and Resource Industries are solving customers’ toughest challenges through commercial excellence and advanced technology, driven by a highly skilled, dedicated global team.

Summary Pay Range

$189,080.00 - $283,630.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

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

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates

October 7, 2026 - October 28, 2026

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.