Autonomy Component Engineer

Description

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Job Description:

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Job Description

This role is not a single-sensor execution engineer. It is the system perception interface owner responsible for Radar and Camera interface definition, quality standards, and engineering deployment in autonomous driving systems.

The position owns perception input quality and serves as the core interface across sensors, perception algorithms, and system architecture, with clear responsibility boundaries and issue ownership.

In one sentence: this is an owner role for perception input quality, not a sensor tuning executor.

Role Definition

Own Radar and Camera integration from sensor selection to perception interface definition, and take responsibility for input data quality, system integration direction, and responsibility demarcation between sensor and algorithm domains.

Responsibilities

A. Radar & Camera Sensor Owner

Lead Radar and Camera selection and technical trade-off decisions Understand and evaluate radar false alarms, occlusion, and multipath risks, as well as camera sensitivity to lighting, installation, and scene conditions Take ownership of engineering feasibility and system risks of the sensor solution Be able to explain independently in technical reviews why a solution is selected or not selected

B. Perception Interface and System Alignment

Define Radar/Camera-to-Perception interfaces, including data interfaces, timestamp strategy, QoS, latency, and bandwidth requirements Align with algorithm teams on input data quality boundaries and clear responsibility split between sensor issues and algorithm issues Make explicit what conditions should be classified as sensor problems Use this ownership model to prevent issues from defaulting back to the platform TL

C. System Integration and Issue Attribution

Lead Radar and Camera integration strategy at the system level During joint debugging phases, judge issue ownership and organize the right stakeholders to resolve problems You are not required to debug drivers yourself, but you must determine the right technical direction

Requirements

• Engineering background in EE, mechanical engineering, automation, vehicle engineering, robotics, or related fields
• Hands-on experience in at least one of Camera or millimeter-wave radar across selection, integration, or system validation
• Ability to communicate technically with perception algorithm teams
• Ability to make independent technical judgments rather than only executing instructions
• Demonstrated excellence in communication and coordination, with the ability to effectively align cross-functional teams, integrate resources, drive issue resolution, and build efficient working relationships with suppliers.
• Strong initiative, accountability, and a results-oriented mindset are essential, with the ability to proactively advance work in complex situations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in multi-sensor fusion programs
• Experience with ROS or ROS2
• Experience in autonomous driving, construction machinery, or robotics projects
• Ability to articulate technical risks clearly instead of using vague subjective language

Success Criteria

• Radar and Camera solutions no longer require item-by-item supervision from the TL
• Perception algorithm issues do not default back to the TL
• Sensor interface definitions are clear and stable
• The owner can independently represent Radar and Camera in technical reviews

Not Responsible For

• Long-term data collection or cleaning
• Labeling management
• Daily test execution
• Sensor driver code maintenance
• Temporary patch-based system integration

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

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