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
Build the Digital Backbone of Modern Manufacturing
We're assembling a dynamic team to develop and scale our Manufacturing & Supply Digital Platform-a next-generation software framework that transforms how manufacturing and supply operations connect, collaborate, and optimize.
This platform is not an ERP system. It's a purpose-built digital layer that integrates data, processes, and resources across the entire manufacturing lifecycle-from design and engineering to production and distribution.
This initiative is powered by NVIDIA technologies, including the Omniverse platform and AI computing capabilities, enabling immersive digital twins, accelerated simulation, and intelligent automation. You'll be part of a team that's not just building software-but shaping the future of how manufacturing works through AI-driven, collaborative, and scalable digital solutions.
As part of this initiative, you'll contribute to:
System Integration: Seamlessly connecting diverse manufacturing and supply systems, data sources, and workflows into a unified digital ecosystem.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Harnessing real-time data collection, analysis, and visualization to deliver actionable insights and operational intelligence.
Automation & Optimization: Driving efficiency through intelligent scheduling, predictive maintenance, and quality control-without replacing core transactional systems.
Enhanced Collaboration: Enabling transparent communication and coordination across teams, functions, and geographies.
If you're passionate about digital platforms, industrial innovation, and working with cutting-edge technologies-this is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Job Summary:
Principal Software Engineer will provide strategic leadership in all stages of Caterpillar's state-of-the-art digital platform software development, including refining product vision, gathering requirements, project planning, software system design, coding, testing, release, deployment and support. This individual will work collaboratively with other engineering teams to ensure cross-functional goals are met.
Principal Software Engineer will provide strategic leadership for the overall architecture of the Manufacturing and Supply Digital Platform by designing platform capabilities that anticipate evolving business requirements and use cases.
The role will collaborate with peers and Enterprise Capability Owners to deliver diverse use cases thru applications, analytics, agents, and business intelligence.
Additionally, the role will leverage innovative NVIDIA technologies to advance digital twin capabilities, simulation, and optimization.
What You Will Do:
Leading complex projects spanning across multiple system components
Designing, modifying, developing, writing and implementing software programming applications for target system using agile methods.
Acquiring client requirements; resolving workflow problems through automation optimization.
Writing source codes for new applications, and/or generating and enhancing code samples for existing applications.
Mentoring and assisting software engineers, providing technical assistance and direction
Utilizing automated testing tools to perform the testing and maintenance.
What You Will Have:
Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Expert knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
Effective Communications: Extensive understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
Software Development: Expert knowledge of software development tools and activities; ability to produce software products written in Java or systems in line with product requirements.
Software Development Life Cycle: Expert 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 : Expert 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: Extensive knowledge of software product design; ability to convert market requirements into the software product design.
Software Product Technical Knowledge : Extensive knowledge of technical aspects of a software products; ability to design, configure and integrate technical aspects of software products.
Software Product Testing : Extensive knowledge of software product testing; ability to design, plan, and execute testing strategies and tactics to ensure software product quality and adherence to stated requirements.
Considerations for Top Candidates:
Demonstrated experience leading software engineering projects.
Expert experience in overall backend or full-stack software development (typically 12+ years or at least 10 years with master's degree).
Expert Java (preferred), Scala or Python, Spring Boot and RESTful API development (preferably Microservices) (typically 8+ years)
Expert experience developing customer facing applications using front-end frameworks, libraries (Angular - preferred / React) and design patterns.
Extensive experience coding HTML 5, CSS3, JavaScript and Web components
Solid Cloud production experience (preferably AWS) OR a higher-level Cloud training certification (e.g., AWS Solution Architect Associate)
Proven experience in many of the following,
Designing, developing, deploying and maintaining software at scale.
Developing software applications using relational and NoSQL databases.
Application architectural patterns, such as MVC, Microservices, Event-driven, etc.
Understanding of fundamental design principles behind a scalable application.
Deploying software using CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GoCD, Azure DevOps etc.
Deploying and maintaining software using public clouds such as AWS or Azure.
Working within an Agile framework (ideally Scrum)
Experience in leading DevOps practices for a large program.
Hands-on experience with Application (web and mobile) Security implementation along with adoption of industry best practices.
Good understanding and implementation experience of OAuth 2.0 and integration experience with federated Identity
Deploying Security implementation experience as part of DevOps process.
Strong understanding and/or experience in many of the following,
Batch or stream processing systems such as Apache Spark, Flink, Akka, Storm
Message brokers such as Kafka, Rabbitmq, AWS SQS, AWS SNS, Apache ActiveMQ, Kinesis.
Experience designing well-defined Restful APIs
Experience writing API proxies on platforms such as Apigee Edge, AWS API Gateway or Azure API Gateway
Hands one experience with API tools such as Swagger, Postman and Assertible
Test driven development and behavior driven development.
Hands on experience with testing tools such as Selenium and Cucumber and their integration into CI/CD pipelines.
Datastores such as MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis, Elasticsearch, MySQL, Oracle.
Debugging and maintaining software in Linux or Unix platforms.
Must demonstrate solid knowledge of computer science fundamentals like data structures and algorithms.
Passion for technology and an eagerness to contribute to a team-oriented environment
Demonstrated leadership on small to medium-scale projects impacting strategic priorities
Excellent communication and presentational skills
Bachelor's degree in Computer science or Electrical engineering or related field
Familiarity with NVIDIA's AI stack- RAPIDS, Triton Inference Server, TensorRT, cuOpt (or similar); sets benchmarking, cost/performance trade-offs, and capacity plans (familiarity with CUDA fundamentals and profiling tools is a plus).
Cloud/edge familiarity-designs/operates production workloads on AWS or Azure
Additional Information:
This position will have the option to be based out of our Chicago, IL; Peoria, IL or Irving, TX offices.
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BI (used to post on Built In Chicago)
What You Will Get:
Working with a Fortune 100 leader, you can build your career on a global scale and take advantage of development opportunities with emerging technologies. We've created an inclusive environment for you to explore your passions, make an impact and do the work that really matters. Join Us.
About Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we've been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.
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.
Summary Pay Range:
$144,960.00 - $235,440.00
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
Visa sponsorship is available for eligible applicants.
Posting Dates:
November 19, 2025 - December 2, 2025
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 (http://flows.beamery.com/caterpillarinc/talcom) .
