Lead Physical AI Engineer
Caterpillar2 days ago
Base Salary
$148k - $240k/yr
Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership for NVIDIA Newton adoption and establish simulation modeling standards and best practices.
- Develop high-fidelity machine dynamics and physics models for construction equipment, including articulated systems, hydraulics, powertrains, and terrain interaction.
- Enable autonomy, robotics, Physical AI, reinforcement learning, synthetic data generation, and software-in-the-loop testing through simulation ecosystems.
- Validate simulation models against engineering analyses, test results, operational data, and machine telemetry.
- Lead the development, validation, deployment, and lifecycle management of reduced-order models.
- Assess emerging simulation technologies and influence Caterpillar’s long-term roadmap for digital twins, virtual product development, and AI-enabled engineering workflows.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams, NVIDIA, autonomy teams, robotics teams, and internal stakeholders.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- At least 8 years of experience in simulation, robotics, autonomous systems, digital twins, or machine dynamics.
- Demonstrated expertise in NVIDIA Newton or similar tools, including multibody dynamics, articulated systems, and machine physics simulation.
- Strong knowledge of vehicle dynamics, hydraulics, powertrain systems, kinematics, and machine-terrain interaction.
- Proficiency in Python and C++.
- Experience developing and validating high-fidelity simulation models for complex mechanical systems or using CAE software tools.
- Experience leading technical projects and collaborating across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Preferred qualifications include experience with NVIDIA Isaac Sim, Omniverse, Warp, OpenUSD, Isaac Lab, construction machinery, ROS2, robotics software, autonomous systems, reinforcement learning, synthetic data generation, Physical AI, digital twins, virtual validation environments, and GitHub Copilot.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits, subject to eligibility.
- 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, and life insurance.
- Parental leave, adoption benefits, and tuition reimbursement.
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.