Principal Digital Architect – Robotics Platform

Caterpillar Inc.; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 159,000 - 259,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plans

Relocation assistance

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in Irving, TX is seeking a Robotics Platform Architect to own the software foundation for robotics and autonomy. You will define end-to-end software architecture, middleware, and platform services to power autonomous machines across products.

Working with autonomy, controls, ML, simulation and data teams, you will set standards, APIs and reference designs to accelerate development and deployment, covering onboard, edge and cloud compute models.

Qualifications

• Robotics platform and middleware architecture experience across multiple teams.
• Experience with onboard, edge and cloud compute architectures for autonomous systems.
• Ability to define APIs, reference designs and standards to accelerate development.
• Strong communication and leadership to guide cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop architecture deliverables to solve business problems.
• Design technical infrastructure including databases, languages and testing approaches.
• Lead evaluation and deployment of new technologies to enhance capabilities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver digital solutions.

Skills

Robotics platform

Middleware architecture

Edge compute

APIs & standards

Autonomy software

Agile SDLC in cloud

Communication skills

Tools

ROS 2 / DDS

GPU acceleration

Containerization

Job description

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.

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.

Bottom line, you are building the platform foundation that lets Caterpillar’s machines scale across products, fleets, and jobsites.

Job Summary

The Robotics Platform Architect owns the software foundation that every robotics and autonomy team builds on — the platform that turns intelligent capabilities into deployable machines. The Principal Digital Architect for the Robotics Platform is responsible for defining and delivering the end-to-end software architecture of Caterpillar’s robotics platform — the middleware, runtime, inter-process communication, platform services, and compute architecture that power autonomous machines. Working across engineering teams spanning autonomy, controls, machine learning, simulation, and data, the architect establishes the standards, APIs, and reference designs that let teams build faster, deploy faster, and share common software instead of reinventing infrastructure. The role defines the onboard, edge, and cloud compute architecture and the real-time execution model that production machines depend on.

What You Will Do

• Developing detailed architecture deliverables to solve business problems.
• Designing an application’s technical infrastructure, such as specific databases, programming languages, utilities, and testing approaches.
• Leading the evaluation and deployment of new technologies to add or enhance existing digital technical capabilities.
• Participating in addressing business requirements for applications and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver digital solutions that meets business results.

What You Will Have

• PLATFORM ARCHITECTURE: 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.
• APPLICATION DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE: Knowledge of application design and architecture principles and practices; ability to utilize application design methodologies, tools, and techniques to convert business requirements and logical models into a technical application design.
• ANALYTICAL THINKING: 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.
• REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS: Knowledge of tools, methods, and techniques of requirement analysis; ability to elicit, analyze and record required business functionality and non-functionality requirements to ensure the success of a system or software development project.
• TARGET ARCHITECTURE: Knowledge of target architecture; ability to develop the IT blueprint and roadmap while aligning the architecture and processes with business strategies and objectives.

Top Candidates Will Have

• ROBOTICS PLATFORM & MIDDLEWARE ARCHITECTURE — Strong experience architecting robot software platforms — middleware, runtime, inter-process communication, and platform services (e.g., ROS 2 / DDS) — used by multiple teams to build and deploy autonomous machines.
• COMPUTE & EDGE ARCHITECTURE — Experience defining onboard, edge, and cloud compute architecture, real-time execution, and resource management for production robotic or autonomous systems, including GPU / accelerated compute and containerized deployment.
• PLATFORM STANDARDS & DEVELOPER ENABLEMENT — Demonstrated ability to define APIs, reference designs, and standards that accelerate autonomy, machine learning, controls, and simulation teams and drive platform consistency across the organization.
• AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS SOFTWARE INTEGRATION — Deep understanding of how perception, planning, controls, and machine platforms integrate at the software layer to deliver reliable autonomous behavior, and the ability to guide teams through complex system design decisions.
• STRATEGIC ARCHITECTURE LEADERSHIP — Ability to influence senior leaders, define architectural roadmaps, establish standards and patterns, govern technology decisions, and provide technical direction across multiple engineering organizations without direct authority.
• Progressive career in software engineering and architecture with a focus on robotics or platform software (senior or principal level).
• Strong understanding of Agile SDLC implementation in public cloud eco-system including environments management, test automation, peer review, CI/CD, resource optimization, etc.
• Excellent communication skills and be able to deal with sensitive issues, mentor and coach and/or persuade others on new technologies, new applications, or potential solutions.

Additional Details

• This position requires the candidate to work full-time at the Irving, TX office (Dallas)
• Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.
• Visa sponsorship is NOT available with this position.

Summary Pay Range

$159,120.00 – $258,570.00

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

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of 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
• These benefits also apply to part-time employees

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

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.