Principal Spatial Intelligence Architect
Caterpillar5 days ago
Irving, TX, USAStaff+
Base Salary
$159k - $259k/yr
Responsibilities
- Develop detailed architecture deliverables addressing business problems.
- Define spatial-reasoning architecture for autonomous machines, including terrain, reach, geometry, constraints, machine footprint, and work-tool planning.
- Architect task and motion planning, spatially grounded VLA, behavior generation, and integration of planning, controls, and autonomous decision-making.
- Design application technical infrastructure, including databases, programming languages, utilities, and testing approaches.
- Lead evaluation and deployment of technologies that enhance digital capabilities.
- Define architectural roadmaps, standards, interfaces, patterns, and technology decisions across engineering organizations.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver digital solutions and business results.
- Provide technical direction and mentor, coach, influence, and persuade engineering teams and leaders.
Requirements
- Strong experience architecting spatial reasoning and real-time motion planning for physical machines or autonomous vehicles.
- Experience planning coordinated motion for actuated implements or manipulators such as excavator buckets, dozer blades, booms, or robot arms is strongly preferred; autonomous-driving motion-planning experience is also valued.
- Familiarity with spatially grounded VLA, embodied AI, behavior generation, and decision-making.
- Deep understanding of how planning, controls, and behavior integrate to deliver safe autonomous action.
- Ability to define architectural patterns, evaluate tradeoffs, guide engineering teams, influence senior leaders, establish standards, and govern technology decisions without direct authority.
- Progressive career in software engineering and architecture focused on autonomy, motion planning, or robotics at a senior or principal level.
- Strong understanding of Agile SDLC implementation in public cloud environments, including environment management, test automation, peer review, CI/CD, and resource optimization.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to address sensitive issues and persuade others regarding technologies, applications, and solutions.
Benefits
- Full-time work at the Irving, Texas office; remote work is not stated.
- Domestic relocation assistance is available.
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
- Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and volunteer time.
- 401(k) savings plans, Health Savings Account, and Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Health lifestyle programs, Employee Assistance Program, voluntary benefits, and employee discounts.
- Career development, incentive bonus, disability benefits, life insurance, parental leave, adoption benefits, and tuition reimbursement.
Categories
Robotics
About Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc. designs, manufactures, and services construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives for infrastructure, resource, and energy customers. The public company, founded in 1925 and headquartered in Irving, Texas, sells primarily through an independent worldwide dealer network and provides equipment financing. It operates through Construction Industries, Resource Industries, and Energy & Transportation segments, with shares traded on the NYSE and Euronext Paris.