QA Lead - Simulation Platform

Caterpillar Inc.; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 128,000 - 209,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plan

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Paid time off (Vacation, Holidays)

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a hands‑on QA Lead to establish quality strategy, validation practices, automation, and release confidence for a foundational simulation platform in Irving, TX.

You will mentor QA engineers, own automated test architecture for UI, API, and data validation, and partner with robotics, product, and architecture teams to translate requirements into testable plans. The role emphasizes driving QA excellence, improving CI/CD pipelines, and leading exploratory testing for

Qualifications

• Experience leading QA or SDET efforts for complex web, platform, simulation, rendering, robotics, or data‑intensive software products.
• Proven ability to define QA/QC processes, engineering quality standards, release criteria, and team operating practices.
• Hands‑on experience with test automation for modern web applications, APIs, backend services, databases, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Working knowledge of frontend and backend quality concerns, including JavaScript/TypeScript applications, service APIs, data contracts, and cross‑browser/device behavior.
• Experience validating 3D, graphics, geospatial, or simulation‑related workflows, including visual correctness, scenario behavior, spatial data, or rendering output.
• Experience with automation and quality tooling such as Playwright, Cypress, Selenium, Jest, pytest, Postman/Newman, REST/GraphQL testing, ESLint, Webpack, or similar tools.
• Experience with cloud‑based environments such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Firebase, or similar deployment platforms.
• Ability to use AI‑assisted development and testing tools responsibly to accelerate test creation, troubleshooting, analysis, and documentation.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate ambiguity into clear quality risks, plans, and decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies independently and help teams adopt better practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead QA strategy, planning, and execution for the simulation and rendering platform across frontend, backend, data, APIs, rendering, and integration layers.
• Define quality standards, test processes, release gates, defect triage methods, acceptance criteria, and measurable quality signals for the engineering team.
• Build and mentor a high‑performing QA function, including hiring support, technical interviewing, onboarding, and coaching QA engineers and SDETs.
• Own automated test architecture for UI, API, integration, regression, data validation, simulation scenarios, rendering validation, and performance/reliability testing.
• Partner with software engineering, robotics, product, and architecture stakeholders to translate business and technical requirements into testable acceptance criteria and validation plans.
• Champion CI/CD quality practices, including test selection, pipeline health, flaky‑test reduction, code review expectations for testability, and release readiness reporting.
• Lead exploratory testing, risk reviews, failure‑mode analysis, and defect‑prevention practices for simulation workflows and robotic use cases.
• Collaborate tightly with robotics and platform teams to reduce gaps between customer needs, technical implementation, simulation behavior, and delivered quality.
• Facilitate QA brainstorming, test design reviews, post‑release learning, and continuous improvement sessions.
• Bring a practical, flexible mindset: if there is a better way to improve quality, propose it and help make it real.

Skills

QA leadership

Test automation

CI/CD

Python/JS/TS

SDET experience

3D/Simulation validation

Robotics platform knowledge

Tools

Playwright

Cypress

Selenium

Jest

pytest

Postman/Newman

REST/GraphQL testing

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

Help Build the Future of Caterpillar – Be Part of What’s Next in Autonomous Construction Sites

At Caterpillar, technology always has a purpose, which is to solve our customers’ toughest challenges. 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.

We are looking for a hands‑on QA Lead who can establish quality strategy, validation practices, automation, and release confidence for a foundational simulation platform. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys moving fast, learning new technologies, collaborating across robotics and platform teams, and building a quality culture from the ground up.

What You Will Do

• Lead QA strategy, planning, and execution for the simulation and rendering platform across frontend, backend, data, APIs, rendering, and integration layers.
• Define quality standards, test processes, release gates, defect triage methods, acceptance criteria, and measurable quality signals for the engineering team.
• Build and mentor a high‑performing QA function, including hiring support, technical interviewing, onboarding, and coaching QA engineers and SDETs.
• Own automated test architecture for UI, API, integration, regression, data validation, simulation scenarios, rendering validation, and performance/reliability testing.
• Partner with software engineering, robotics, product, and architecture stakeholders to translate business and technical requirements into testable acceptance criteria and validation plans.
• Champion CI/CD quality practices, including test selection, pipeline health, flaky‑test reduction, code review expectations for testability, and release readiness reporting.
• Lead exploratory testing, risk reviews, failure‑mode analysis, and defect‑prevention practices for simulation workflows and robotic use cases.
• Collaborate tightly with robotics and platform teams to reduce gaps between customer needs, technical implementation, simulation behavior, and delivered quality.
• Facilitate QA brainstorming, test design reviews, post‑release learning, and continuous improvement sessions.
• Bring a practical, flexible mindset: if there is a better way to improve quality, propose it and help make it real.

Required

• Experience leading QA or SDET efforts for complex web, platform, simulation, rendering, robotics, mapping, or data‑intensive software products.
• Proven ability to define QA/QC processes, engineering quality standards, release criteria, and team operating practices.
• Hands‑on experience with test automation for modern web applications, APIs, backend services, databases, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Working knowledge of frontend and backend quality concerns, including JavaScript/TypeScript applications, service APIs, data contracts, and cross-browser/device behavior.
• Experience validating 3D, graphics, geospatial, or simulation‑related workflows, including visual correctness, scenario behavior, spatial data, or rendering output.
• Experience with automation and quality tooling such as Playwright, Cypress, Selenium, Jest, pytest, Postman/Newman, REST/GraphQL testing, ESLint, Webpack, or similar tools.
• Experience with cloud‑based environments such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Firebase, or similar deployment platforms.
• Ability to use AI‑assisted development and testing tools responsibly to accelerate test creation, troubleshooting, analysis, and documentation.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate ambiguity into clear quality risks, plans, and decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies independently and help teams adopt better practices.

Top Candidate

• 7+ years of experience in software quality, test automation, SDET, or related engineering roles for complex software platforms.
• 3+ years leading QA strategy, QA engineers, SDETs, or cross‑functional quality initiatives.
• 5+ years building automated tests for frontend, backend, API, integration, or system‑level workflows.
• 5+ years working in agile software delivery environments with strong collaboration across engineering, product, and stakeholders.
• Strong scripting or programming skills, preferably in Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, or Node.js.
• Experience with rendering, simulation platforms, robotics test environments, Nvidia Omniverse, game engines, GIS/terrain mapping, or digital twin technologies is highly desirable.
• Experience improving CI/CD pipeline quality, release readiness, defect analytics, and long‑term maintainability of test suites.
• Comfortable balancing hands‑on execution with technical leadership, mentoring, and process definition.

Preferred Technical Areas

• Simulation platform validation, rendering validation, scenario‑based testing, digital twin workflows, robotics simulation, geospatial/map data validation, terrain mapping, and synthetic environment test design.
• API and data validation across SQL, NoSQL, GraphQL, published datasets, open‑source libraries, and internally maintained schemas.
• Performance, reliability, scalability, observability, and production‑quality feedback loops for platform services.

Additional Details

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

Summary Pay Range

$128,470.00 - $208,770.00

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.

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.

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.