Robotics Platform Architect

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.

If this work motivates you, we invite you to join our team. In this role, you'll work at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds. You'll help design and deliver the shared robotics platform capabilities that enable intelligent machines to operate reliably across Caterpillar products and jobsites.

Apply today to help build the new era of construction autonomy at Caterpillar.

Job Summary:

The Robotics Platform Architect owns and delivers defined areas of Caterpillar's shared robotics software platform, including middleware, runtime, inter-process communication, platform services, developer frameworks, and onboard and edge execution capabilities.

Working within the end-to-end robotics platform architecture established by the Principal Robotics Platform Architect, this role translates architectural vision into implementable solution architectures and detailed technical designs. The architect has direct ownership for assigned platform capabilities, including technical design decisions, components, APIs, interfaces, data flows, deployment patterns, and reference implementations, and works with engineering teams through implementation, integration, validation, and deployment.

Bottom line, you will bridge architecture and engineering to turn the robotics platform vision into working software that autonomy teams can build upon and deploy on Caterpillar machines.

What You Will Do:

• Own assigned robotics platform capabilities - Lead the architecture and technical design for defined platform areas from architectural vision through implementation, integration, validation, and deployment.
• Translate architecture into implementable designs - Create component designs, APIs, interfaces, message and data flows, deployment patterns, acceptance criteria, and reference implementations.
• Design and evolve the shared robotics platform - Develop middleware, runtime services, inter-process communication, developer frameworks, common services, and reusable software components.
• Define interfaces and integration patterns - Enable perception, planning, controls, intelligent behaviors, and machine systems to use common platform mechanisms without assuming ownership of those specialized domains.
• Develop onboard and edge execution solutions - Address containerized workloads, accelerated compute, resource management, observability, lifecycle management, and real-time execution in alignment with the broader platform and Edge Architecture.
• Partner directly with engineering teams - Resolve design issues, evaluate technical trade-offs, and ensure delivered software conforms to platform architecture, interface contracts, and quality expectations.
• Evaluate robotics platform technologies - Apply technologies such as ROS 2, DDS, Linux, containers, GPU and accelerated computing, and distributed runtime frameworks based on performance, scalability, reliability, safety, and integration needs.
• Enable integration and validation - Support simulation, software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, prototype-machine, and production-oriented environments in partnership with Robotics Validation.
• Create reusable platform assets - Produce reference designs, technical documentation, implementation guidance, and patterns that reduce duplication and improve consistency across teams.
• Contribute to platform evolution - Bring implementation experience, engineering feedback, and emerging technology considerations into broader architecture decisions and roadmaps.

What You Will Have:

• PLATFORM ARCHITECTURE: Knowledge of platform architecture principles and the ability to design reusable platform capabilities, interfaces, services, and deployment patterns within an established end-to-end architecture.
• APPLICATION DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE: Knowledge of software and solution architecture methods; ability to convert functional and nonfunctional requirements into implementable component designs, interfaces, APIs, and technology choices.
• ANALYTICAL THINKING: Ability to analyze complex technical problems, identify root causes, evaluate alternatives, and recommend practical solutions based on performance, reliability, scalability, safety, cost, and delivery considerations.
• REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS: Ability to elicit, analyze, and translate product, machine, engineering, and operational needs into platform requirements, technical designs, and measurable acceptance criteria.
• TARGET ARCHITECTURE: Knowledge of target architecture principles and the ability to translate established architectural direction and roadmaps into implementable solution designs for assigned platform areas.
• SYSTEMS THINKING: Ability to understand complex cyber-physical systems, identify dependencies, clarify ownership boundaries, and evaluate trade-offs across the complete robotics system.
• TECHNICAL COLLABORATION: Demonstrated ability to work across architecture and engineering, communicate technical decisions clearly, and influence delivery without relying on direct authority.

Top Candidates Will Have:

• ROBOTICS PLATFORM & MIDDLEWARE: Experience developing or architecting robotics software platforms using ROS 2, DDS, messaging, middleware, runtime services, component lifecycle management, or comparable distributed robotics frameworks.
• SOFTWARE & SOLUTION DESIGN: Experience turning architectural concepts into detailed, implementable solution designs, including APIs, component boundaries, interfaces, data flows, deployment patterns, and reusable software architectures.
• DISTRIBUTED & REAL-TIME SYSTEMS: Understanding of latency, concurrency, reliability, quality of service, fault handling, observability, resource utilization, and communication across distributed or real-time systems.
• EDGE & COMPUTE SYSTEMS: Experience with Linux-based edge computing, containers, GPU or accelerated computing, resource management, and deployment of software to embedded or robotic systems.
• ROBOTICS SYSTEMS INTEGRATION: Understanding of how perception, planning, controls, machine interfaces, AI and machine learning capabilities, and platform services integrate within an autonomous or robotic system.
• ARCHITECTURE-TO-ENGINEERING DELIVERY: Demonstrated ability to take a solution from architectural vision through technical design, implementation, integration, validation, and deployment in partnership with engineering teams.
• MODERN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT: Experience with C++ and/or Python, Linux, containers, CI/CD, automated testing, source control, Agile software delivery, and modern software-engineering practices.
• RELEVANT CAREER EXPERIENCE: Progressive experience in software engineering, solution architecture, or platform architecture, preferably involving robotics, autonomous systems, embedded systems, or other cyber-physical products.
• COMMUNICATION & TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP: Ability to communicate complex technical concepts, provide implementation guidance, resolve cross-team issues, and help teams adopt new technologies and platform patterns.
• PHYSICAL AI & AUTONOMY: Experience with robotics, autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, heavy equipment, Physical AI, or another cyber-physical domain is highly desirable.

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:

$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. Relocation is available for this position. 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.

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