Autonomy Systems Engineer

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.
This role contributes to the definition, design, integration, and validation of operator safety systems across Caterpillar automation and autonomy solutions. The Systems Engineer applies established systems engineering practices to develop reliable, field-ready safety system capabilities that help protect operators, bystanders, and equipment in demanding mining and construction environments. Working collaboratively with cross-functional engineering, product, test, and operations teams, this role supports system architecture definition, requirements development, interface management, integration planning, and verification activities for operator-facing safety technologies.
Our CAT Technology Automation and Autonomy teams are focused on advancing practical automation and autonomy solutions for harsh production environments found on mining and construction jobsites. The Operator Safety Systems team develops technologies that support safe operation around people, machines, and jobsite hazards, including sensing, monitoring, alerting, intervention, and system behaviors that reduce operational risk.

• Operator presence, awareness, and monitoring systems
• Cameras, sensors, perception inputs, and machine interfaces that support operator safety
• Safety-related system behaviors, alerts, and intervention concepts
• Integration of operator safety features with autonomy, remote control, and site technology solutions
• Field-ready safety solutions for mining, construction, quarry, surface, and underground applications

What You Will Do:

• Develop, manage, and maintain system-level requirements for operator safety system capabilities, interfaces, and behaviors
• Define system architectures, operating concepts, use cases, interfaces, and functional allocations across software, hardware, sensing, and machine control components
• Use Jama or similar requirements management tools to establish traceability between needs, requirements, design decisions, verification evidence, and field learnings
• Support integration, verification, and validation planning for operator safety features across lab, machine, proving ground, and customer-site environments
• Collaborate with software, hardware, controls, test, product, and field teams to deliver cohesive safety system solutions
• Analyze hazards, operational scenarios, edge cases, and system interactions to drive clear technical decisions and risk-informed trade-offs
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues that span machine operation, sensing, software behavior, operator interaction, and environmental conditions
• Create and maintain systems engineering artifacts including requirements, architecture descriptions, interface definitions, verification plans, and technical decision records

What You Have:

• Systems Engineering Experience: Demonstrated experience developing and managing system requirements, interfaces, architecture, and verification strategies for complex electro-mechanical, embedded, autonomy, or machine systems. Experience translating operational needs and safety-related scenarios into clear system behaviors, technical requirements, and integration plans across multi-team development environments.

• Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

• Product Development and Requirements Lifecycle: Knowledge of structured product development practices; ability to manage requirements, design inputs, verification activities, issue resolution, and change impacts throughout the lifecycle of operator safety system features.
• System Verification and Validation: Knowledge of verification and validation methods; ability to define testable requirements, develop verification plans, support lab and machine testing, evaluate results, and confirm system behavior meets stated needs in realistic operating conditions.
• Systems Engineering Tools: Knowledge of requirements, architecture, issue tracking, and test management tools; ability to use these tools to maintain traceability, manage change, communicate technical intent, and support cross-functional execution.
• Technical Troubleshooting: Knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools, and techniques; ability to anticipate, recognize, and resolve technical issues involving machine operation, sensors, embedded software, hardware, applications, and operator-facing system behavior.

• Education Requirements: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field - or commensurate industry experience.

Consideration for Top Candidates:

• Proven experience as a Systems Engineer on operator safety, autonomy, embedded, machine control, or electro-mechanical product development programs
• Hands-on experience with Jama for requirements development, traceability, review workflows, change impact analysis, and verification evidence is a strong differentiator for top candidates
• Experience developing safety-related system requirements and supporting integration, verification, and validation efforts across hardware, software, and sensing components
• Experience with cameras, sensors, perception inputs, operator monitoring, proximity awareness, or driver assistance technologies preferred
• Background in autonomy, robotics, remote control, human-machine interaction, or safety-critical machine systems
• Ability to connect jobsite operating scenarios with clear system behaviors, measurable requirements, and practical verification strategies
• Construction, mining, heavy equipment, or Caterpillar product experience preferred

Additional Information:

• This position is to work onsite at our Irving, TX office.
• Relocation assistance is NOT available for this position.
• Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position
• This position may require travel up to 30%

#LI
Summary Pay Range:
$97,530.00 - $158,480.00
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.
Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Posting Dates:
October 4, 2026 - October 18, 2026
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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