Principal Edge Architect - Platform

Job description

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 against. If this work motivates you, we invite you to join our team. In these roles, you’ll work at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds. You’ll help design and deliver intelligent systems that enable machines to perceive their environment, make informed decisions, and support safer, more productive operations. Apply today to build the new era of construction autonomy at Caterpillar. Job Summary: Own the overall architecture strategy for the edge platform that runs machine autonomy applications. This role leads the Physical AI - Edge Platform Architecture Team and defines how the NVIDIA Thor-based compute platform, input/output interfaces, networking, runtime environment, storage, monitoring, diagnostics, and system resources come together to support perception, robotics, machine interface, data logging and transmission, and safety-related autonomy services. This architect ensures the edge platform is scalable, reliable, serviceable, secure, and ready for real machine deployment across different autonomy applications, sensor configurations, machine platforms, and operating environments. What You Will Do: Define the overall edge platform architecture and roadmap for machine autonomy applications, including compute, input/output interfaces, networking, memory, storage, runtime environment, diagnostics, monitoring, data logging, and data transmission. Own key platform architecture decisions and tradeoffs across GPU, CPU, memory, storage, sensor bandwidth, network bandwidth, latency, power, thermal limits, reliability, serviceability, scalability, and cost. Lead architecture alignment across perception, robotics, machine platform, simulation, validation, safety, cybersecurity, operations, and product teams to ensure the edge platform supports end-to-end autonomy needs. Define standard edge platform configurations for different machine types, sensor packages, autonomy feature levels, and deployment environments, including platform expansion strategy. Identify platform capability gaps, technical risks, and future hardware or software needs, and drive recommendations for platform improvements, supplier engagement, upgrade paths, and long-term edge compute strategy. What You Will Have: Analytical Thinking: Expert Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems. Platform Architecture: Expert knowledge of technologies and methods to design processing mechanisms and roadmaps to execute business application systems; ability to design these roadmaps and deploy supportive interfaces for end-users to access related systems, in accordance with standards and processes. Data Architecture: Expert knowledge of processes, techniques and factors that affect data architecture; ability to design blueprints on how to integrate data resources for business processes and functional support. Ability to utilize design methodologies, tools and techniques to convert business requirements and logical models into a technical design. Effective Communications: Expert understanding 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. Organizational Leadership: Expert knowledge of leadership concepts and ability to use strategies and skills to enlist others in setting, embracing and achieving objectives. Considerations for Top Candidates: Strong experience designing edge compute platforms for autonomy, robotics, vehicle systems, industrial machines, or other real-time embedded applications. Deep understanding of GPU, CPU, memory, storage, networking, input/output interfaces, sensor data bandwidth, latency, power, thermal, reliability, and serviceability tradeoffs. Experience with NVIDIA edge AI platforms and software ecosystem, preferably including NVIDIA Thor, CUDA, TensorRT, GPU-accelerated inference, and hardware/software optimization. Strong system architecture judgment, with the ability to define scalable platform configurations across different machine types, sensor packages, autonomy functions, and deployment environments. Ability to work cross-functionally with perception, robotics, machine platform, simulation, validation, safety, cybersecurity, operations, suppliers, and product teams to align edge platform capability with real machine autonomy needs. 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 available for this position This position will require up to 25% domestic travel Summary Pay Range: $159,120.00 - $258,570.00 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 available for eligible applicants. 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. Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community .