Principal Spatial Intelligence Architect

Caterpillar; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 284,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid time off

401(k) savings plans

HSA

Job summary

Caterpillar is seeking a Spatial Intelligence Architect to define the spatial-reasoning architecture that enables autonomous machines to reason about space, terrain, and reach, turning plans into precise on-site action.

The role focuses on planning, motion generation, and integration with upstream teams to implement safe, productive work on job sites. Based in Irving, TX, full-time.

Qualifications

• SPATIAL REASONING & MOTION PLANNING – experience architecting spatial reasoning and motion planning for autonomous machines.
• IMPLEMENT & MANIPULATION PLANNING – ability to plan coordinated motion of an implement to execute work.
• SPATIALLY GROUNDED VLA & BEHAVIOR – familiarity with grounding language/actions in spatial context.
• AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS & DECISION ARCHITECTURE – understanding planning, controls, and behavior integration.
• STRATEGIC ARCHITECTURE LEADERSHIP – influence senior leaders; define roadmaps and patterns.

Responsibilities

• Developing detailed architecture deliverables to solve business problems.
• Designing an application's technical infrastructure, databases, languages, utilities, and testing approaches.
• Leading the evaluation and deployment of new technologies to add or enhance digital capabilities.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver digital solutions that meet business results.

Skills

Spatial reasoning & motion planning

Implementation & manipulation planning

Spatially grounded VLA & behavior

Autonomous systems & decision arch

Strategic architecture leadership

Software engineering & architecture

Agile SDLC in cloud environments

Excellent communication

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.

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:

The Spatial Intelligence Architect owns how the machine reasons about space to plan and get work done — turning intelligence into precise motion and implement action on the jobsite.

The Principal Digital Architect for Spatial Intelligence is responsible for defining the spatial-reasoning architecture that lets autonomous machines reason about space, terrain, reach, and their own footprint and implement to plan and execute work. Squarely within Robotics — reasoning, planning, VLA, and behavior generation — this role turns upstream environment inputs into motion and implement planning: positioning the machine and planning how its work tool (bucket, blade, boom) does the job, not just navigating a path. The architect defines the spatial reasoning behind task and motion planning, spatially grounded VLA, and behavior generation, and sets the standards and interfaces for what Robotics consumes from upstream teams without owning those upstream functions.

Bottom line, you are the spatial reasoning that turns an autonomous machine’s plans into real work on the jobsite.

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:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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:

• SPATIAL REASONING & MOTION PLANNING – Strong experience architecting spatial reasoning and real-time motion planning for physical machines or autonomous vehicles — reasoning about geometry, free space, reach, and constraints to plan feasible, goal-directed movement.
• IMPLEMENT & MANIPULATION PLANNING – Experience planning coordinated motion of an actuated implement or manipulator (e.g., excavator bucket, dozer blade, boom, or robot arm) to execute work — a strong plus; autonomous-driving motion-planning experience is equally valued.
• SPATIALLY GROUNDED VLA & BEHAVIOR – Familiarity with grounding language and actions in a machine’s spatial context (VLA / embodied AI) and driving behavior generation and decision-making from spatial reasoning.
• AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS & DECISION ARCHITECTURE – Deep understanding of how planning, controls, and behavior integrate to deliver safe autonomous action; ability to define architectural patterns, evaluate tradeoffs, and guide engineering teams through complex 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 autonomy, motion planning, or robotics (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:

$175,030.00 - $284,430.00

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

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

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.