Senior Software Engineering Manager

Caterpillar Brazil; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 148,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k)

HSA

FSAs

Career development

Incentive bonus

Life insurance

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a senior software engineering leader to shape the future of our search platforms. You will define long-term technical direction, recruit and mentor teams, and architect scalable solutions across websites and content systems.

Role requires expertise in Java/Python/Scala, AI tooling, and AWS, with a focus on low-latency, high-quality software delivery and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Experience leading multiple engineering teams to deliver end-to-end search solutions.
• Proficiency with OpenSearch, Elasticsearch, SOLR, Lucene, Coveo, and LucidWorks Fusion.
• Strong knowledge of headless frameworks for web/mobile integration and crawlers.
• Proficiency in Java, Python, or Scala, with source control practices.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement a long-term technical vision for the search platform to scale with data and query complexity.
• Recruit, manage, and mentor one or multiple software engineering teams.
• Build detailed architecture for search solutions focused on websites content.
• Lead AI-enabled enhancements like NLP, vector search, and personalization to improve relevance.
• Design integrations across platforms and ensure high-quality software through testing.

Skills

Software leadership

Search architecture

Java

Python

Scala

AWS

DevOps

AI tools

Team management

Tools

OpenSearch

Elasticsearch

SOLR

Lucene

Coveo

Lucidworks Fusion

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. Cat Digital is the digital and technology arm of Caterpillar Inc., leveraging the latest technologies to build industry leading digital solutions for our customers and dealers. With over 1.5 million connected assets worldwide, our teams use data, technology, advanced analytics, telematics, and AI capabilities to help our customers build a better, more sustainable world. Our websites and eCommerce applications are the key digital enabler to Caterpillar’s aftermarket parts and services growth strategy. Delivering on the Caterpillar brand promise of premium, high-quality solutions is an important element in accelerating the development and deployment of Caterpillar’s expanded capabilities in eCommerce.

What You Will Do:

• Define and implement a long-term technical vision for the search platform to ensure scalability and adaptability to growing data volumes and query complexity.
• Understand major product and service groups and apply that knowledge across business scenarios.
• Build detailed technical architecture for search solutions specifically focused on websites content.
• Responsible for recruiting, managing, and mentoring one or multiple teams of software engineers to achieve shared departmental objectives.
• Use leadership strategies to align teams around shared objectives and outcomes.
• Introduce advanced capabilities such as NLP, vector search, and personalization to enhance relevance and accuracy.
• Use structured delivery methods to manage new or enhanced software products.
• Design and maintain integrations across platforms, systems, and software packages.
• Apply testing processes and tools to ensure high-quality software solutions.
• Manage IT services and oversee reliable service operations.
• Build search capabilities with measurable KPIs (e.g., CTR, Query Distribution, Zero Search) and leverage analytics to continuously improve search performance.
• Partner with product managers, data scientists, and engineering leaders to align search initiatives with business objectives.

What you will have:

• Products and Services: Knowledge of major products and services and product and service groups; ability to apply knowledge of product and service appropriately to diverse situations.
• Organizational Leadership: Knowledge of leadership concepts and ability to use strategies and skills to enlist others in setting, embracing and achieving objectives.
• Software Development: Knowledge of software development tools and activities; ability to produce software products or systems in line with product requirements.
• Software Development Life Cycle: Knowledge of software development life cycle; ability to use a structured methodology for delivering and managing new or enhanced software products to the marketplace.
• Software Integration Engineering: Knowledge of software integration processes and functions; ability to design, develop and maintain interfaces and linkage to alternative platforms and software packages.
• Software Product Design/Architecture: Knowledge of software product design; ability to convert market requirements into software product design.
• Software Quality Assurance and Testing: Knowledge of software quality assurance and testing; ability to apply appropriate processes, tools, and techniques for assuring a high level of quality in computer software products and systems.
• IT Service Management (ITSM): Knowledge of Information Technology (IT) service; ability to manage IT services and oversee service operations.

Consideration for top candidates:

• Strong experience as a Software engineering manager, Software Architecture manager, Software product manager managing 10+ team members Previous experience with Search products such as OpenSearch, Elastic Search, SOLR, Lucene, Coveo, and LucidWorks Fusion.
• Strong expertise in building head-less frameworks to integrate with Web/Mobile applications along with building crawlers, Web information parsing solutions.
• Proficiency in Java, Python, or Scala, including source control tools and practices for managing code and changes to it.
• Proficiency in AI code generation tools such as Claude Code, ChatGPT, or GitHub Copilot.
• Familiarity with DevOps tools and techniques for cloud deployment.
• Practical experience applying machine learning to improve search relevance.
• Strong search engineering experience, leading multiple engineering teams, driving technical architecture and decision-making, and delivering end-to-end search solutions across eCommerce and content search environments in diverse industries.
• Working experience with building Low-latency API in AWS using Memory-storage solutions preferred.
• Familiarity with A/B testing frameworks for evaluating and improving search relevance preferred.
• Must demonstrate strong initiative, interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate effectively.

Additional Details:

This position requires the candidate tobe in Chicago, IL, Peoria, IL or Dallas, TX Relocation assistance is NOT available for this position Visa sponsorship is NOT available with this position. This position will require up to 10% travel

Summary Pay Range: $147,760.00 - $240,110.00

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

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply. We hire smart, friendly people and it shows in our culture. We hold ourselves to high standards and make sure our values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, commitment and sustainability come to life in the way we work. We make sure our employees feel continuously challenged while also supported. We provide professional growth opportunities, including leadership programs. We celebrate the diversity of our team, while also working together as one Caterpillar. Our culture, like everything at our company, is made possible by each employee’s contribution. Person by person, we create the environment we work in, and we are proud of the Caterpillar we’ve built.