Automation Engineering Specialist

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you’re joining a global team who care not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers and future work 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 Technology collaborates with partners across the Caterpillar enterprise to advance technologies including autonomy and automation, which helps enhance site safety, productivity and efficiency across customer operations worldwide. Cat Technology also owns enterprise-wide initiatives in innovation, research and development, manufacturing automation and advanced materials, ensuring Caterpillar continues to lead the industry in technological excellence and engineering innovation.

The Automation Engineering Specialist applies seasoned engineering judgment to design, integrate, and validate electronic control systems for Caterpillar mining machines fitted with an autonomy solution. The role works independently within defined technical objectives and contributes to system-level integration decisions for both current production platforms and next-generation electronic architectures. The engineer collaborates across machine systems, electronics, and software teams to deliver integrated robust, production-ready autonomy solutions.

Additional Information:

• Location: Mossville, IL, Tucson, AZ, Irving, TX – United States (onsite, Monday–Friday)
• Required Travel: Up to 20% (Domestic)
• Relocation Assistance Offered: Domestic
• US Work Sponsorship Offered: Yes

What You Will Do:

• Develop and maintain technical specifications and integration documentation for autonomous machine electronic systems, including ECMs, software, and networked components
• Resolve system design and integration issues by working closely with machine system and subsystem teams during development and production phases
• Support software release planning and execution, including required documentation for field updates, wiring changes, and component updates
• Communicate technical status, risks, and integration readiness in gateway and stakeholder reviews
• Coordinate assigned software development and integration activities to ensure schedule, quality, and technical requirements are met
• Develop and execute test plans and support system and software validation activities, including lab and machine-level testing
• Scope & Decision Making
  • Works independently on moderately complex system integration problems within established product architectures
  • Applies engineering judgment to evaluate design tradeoffs, integration risks, and verification approaches
  • Influences subsystem and system-level technical decisions but does not hold full product or organizational ownership
  • Provides technical guidance to less-experienced engineers without formal leadership responsibility

What You Will Have (Basic Requirements):

• Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science

• Communicating Complex Concepts: Knowledge of effective presentation tools and techniques to ensure clear understanding; ability to use summarization and simplification techniques to explain complex technical concepts in simple, clear language appropriate to the audience.

• Effective Communications: 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.

• Managing Multiple Priorities: Knowledge of effective self-management practices; ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.

• Technical Excellence: Knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.

• Strategic Thinking: Knowledge of the importance of "big picture" thinking and planning; ability to apply organizational acumen and competitiveness to identify and maintain focus on key success factors for the organization.

• Influencing Through Expertise: Knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to use these to deepen own expertise and impact or challenge decisions within and outside own organization.

• Software Product Design/Architecture: Knowledge of software product design; ability to convert market requirements into the software product design.

• Artificial Intelligence: Knowledge of the concepts, technologies and methodologies of artificial intelligence (AI); ability to develop, implement and/or apply artificial intelligence products and services in specific industry domain to achieve business goals.

What Will Set You Apart (Top Candidates Will Have):

• Typically, 5–10 years of embedded control systems development experience
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with electrical and electronic control systems
• Experience developing machine control requirements and system specifications
• Experience with CAN, J1939, and related data link communications
• Understanding of mobile machine operation, preferably in construction or mining equipment applications
• Experience with CAN, J1939, and Ethernet development and analysis tools
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information to diverse audiences
• Mechanical aptitude and working knowledge of Caterpillar machine electrical and electronic systems
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink modeling in embedded software environments
• Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation and validation processes
• Familiarity with software configuration management tools such as Git or ClearCase
• Experience developing embedded real-time systems for off-highway, industrial, or mobile applications
• Experience with FMEA processes and understanding of electronic system failure modes

What You Will Get:

Through it all, we are one team – creating and delivering world-class components and solutions superior to the competition. Learn more about the Caterpillar Experience.

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.

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