Principal Edge Architect - Hardware and Interface

Caterpillar Inc.; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 148,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plans

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Tuition Reimbursement

Career Development

Incentive bonus

Parental leave

Disability benefits

Life Insurance

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking an experienced Edge System Architect to own the NVIDIA Thor‑based platform hardware and interface architecture at our Irving, TX site.

You will define capabilities, limitations and integration requirements for the compute platform, I/O boards, and sensor interfaces to support perception, robotics, data logging, and safety autonomy services. You will collaborate with engineering and supplier teams to assess capabilities, plan expansions and upgrade strategies, ensuring

Qualifications

• Analytical thinking to identify root causes and propose solutions.
• Expert knowledge to design processing mechanisms and roadmaps.
• Knowledge of data integration and technical design principles.
• Strong communication skills for cross‑functional alignment.
• Leadership skills to enlist teams and drive objectives.

Responsibilities

• Define the edge system hardware architecture for the NVIDIA Thor‑based platform.
• Own architecture for edge platform interfaces (Ethernet, GMSL, CAN, USB, PCIe, I2C, etc.).
• Assess CPU/GPU/memory/storage bandwidth, power, thermal limits, and expansion options.
• Collaborate with internal and supplier teams to identify gaps and plan improvements.

Skills

Analytical Thinking

Platform Architecture

Data Architecture

Effective Communications

Organizational Leadership

Job description

Job Description

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

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.

Job Summary

Own the edge system hardware and interface architecture for the NVIDIA Thor-based machine autonomy platform. This role focuses on understanding and defining the capabilities, limitations, and integration requirements of the Thor compute platform, host or breakout input/output boards, hardware resources, sensor interfaces, network interfaces, storage, memory, CPU, GPU, machine-facing connectivity, and platform expansion capabilities.

This architect ensures the edge system has the right hardware configuration, interface capacity, bandwidth, connectivity, and expansion path to support perception, robotics, machine interface, data logging and transmission, diagnostics, and safety-related autonomy services.

What You Will Do

• Define the edge system hardware architecture for the NVIDIA Thor-based platform, including compute module, host or breakout input/output boards, hardware resources, interface capacity, and machine integration requirements.
• Own the architecture definition for edge platform interfaces, including Ethernet, GMSL, CAN, USB, UART, PCIe, I2C, storage, power, synchronization, and other machine or sensor connectivity needs.
• Assess system capabilities and constraints across CPU, GPU, memory, storage, network bandwidth, sensor bandwidth, input/output capacity, power, thermal limits, physical packaging, and expansion options.
• Collaborate with internal functional teams and supplier teams to identify hardware gaps, input/output limitations, bandwidth constraints, integration risks, and recommend expansion, upgrade, or platform improvement strategies.

What You Will Have

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 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.

Considerations For Top Candidates

• Strong experience with edge hardware platforms, embedded systems, or vehicle compute platforms. Experience with NVIDIA Jetson/Thor hardware and ecosystem is a strong plus.
• Deep understanding of CPU, GPU, memory, storage, input/output interfaces, network bandwidth, sensor bandwidth, power, thermal, packaging, and hardware expansion tradeoffs.
• Experience with sensor and machine interfaces such as Ethernet, GMSL, CAN, USB, PCIe, UART, I2C, synchronization, power, and storage connectivity.
• Strong ability to work with internal engineering teams and suppliers to assess hardware capability gaps, interface limitations, and recommend practical expansion or upgrade strategies.

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 available for this position
• This position will require up to 25% domestic travel

Summary Pay Range

$147,760.00 - $240,110.00

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 available for eligible applicants.

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.