Principal Perception Architect - Site Scan

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) plans

Paid time off

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a hands-on engineer to own the architecture strategy for construction site scanning and site intelligence.

You will evaluate technologies such as lidar, photogrammetry, drone-based scanning, and BIM-to-field workflows to produce 3D site data, inspect machines, track progress, and generate reports for autonomy and operations. Collaborate across perception, simulation, and field teams to shape safer, more productive jobsites at scale.

Qualifications

• Strong experience with construction site scanning and 3D capture.
• Experience in complex field environments to support operational decisions.
• Ability to evaluate technologies and distinguish practical value from demos.

Responsibilities

• Define architecture strategy for construction site scanning and site intelligence.
• Evaluate internal and external site scan technologies
• Define data requirements and consumption for autonomy, simulation, and operations.
• Assess gaps and recommend build/buy/partner strategies.

Skills

Site scan tech

3D mapping

Lidar scanning

Robotics inspection

Drone-based scanning

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

BIM-to-field tools

Point cloud software

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.

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.

Job Summary

Own the architecture strategy for construction site scanning and site intelligence. This role evaluates and integrates technologies such as robotic site scanning, lidar mapping, photogrammetry, drone-based scanning, and BIM-to-field comparison to generate 3D site data, inspect machines and jobsite conditions, track work progress, compare actual site conditions against plans, and produce data products and reports for autonomy, operations, simulation, and customer workflows.

Primary Responsibilities

• Define the architecture strategy for construction site scanning and site intelligence, including 3D site capture, jobsite inspection, machine inspection, progress tracking, site condition monitoring, and reporting.
• Evaluate internal and external site scan technologies, including robotic site scanning, lidar mapping, 360-degree imaging, photogrammetry, drone-based scanning, fixed sensors, BIM-to-field comparison, and AI-based site understanding tools.
• Define site scan data requirements, including 3D point clouds, images, semantic site features, machine location, work progress, site changes, inspection results, and metadata.
• Define how site scan data will be consumed by autonomy, simulation, operations, validation, and customer workflows.
• Assess current capability gaps and recommend build, buy, or partner strategies for site scanning and site intelligence solutions.

Candidate Requirements

• Strong experience with construction site scanning, 3D mapping, lidar scanning, photogrammetry, 360-degree imaging, robotic inspection, drone-based scanning, or related spatial data capture technologies.
• Experience working in construction, infrastructure, or other complex field environments, with an understanding of how site data supports operational decisions.
• Strong ability to evaluate emerging technologies and separate practical product value from vendor demonstrations, prototypes, or research concepts.
• Solid understanding of 3D environments, localization, mapping accuracy, data quality, and how site data can be structured for downstream consuming services.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with perception, simulation, robotics, operations, field teams, and external technology partners.

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

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 available for eligible applicants.

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.