Caterpillar, Inc

Autonomy Engineering Specialist - Operator Safety Systems

Caterpillar, Inc$128K — $208K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
  • 5-7 years advanced C++ development experience for production software
  • Strong engineering practices and debugging/profiling skills
  • Experience in designing software for complex systems involving sensors and perception
  • Proficient in diagnosing problems and risk analysis for technical solutions

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement production-quality C++ software for operator safety systems
  • Develop and integrate software components for operator awareness and collision mitigation
  • Build and maintain camera and sensor data pipelines for safety applications
  • Lead software architecture discussions focused on reliability and maintainability
  • Collaborate with engineering teams to translate safety needs into software requirements
  • Troubleshoot software issues using logs and telemetry
  • Facilitate design and code reviews across engineering teams

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits
  • Paid time off plan including vacation and holidays
  • 401(k) savings plans
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Career Development opportunities
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Parental leave and adoption benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program and incentives
  • Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts
  • Disability benefits and Life Insurance
Full Job Description

Career Area:

Engineering

Job Description:

The Operator Safety Systems Senior Developer uses their experience to provide technical contribution in the design, development, integration, and deployment of production software that helps protect operators, personnel, and equipment in heavy equipment environments. Working with a high degree of independence, this role develops robust C++ software for perception-enabled safety features, operator awareness, and related safety-system capabilities used in mining, construction, and other demanding applications.

This individual serves as a hands-on technical leader within an operator safety systems team that supports projects such as Collision Mitigation, Camera/Radar/Sensor Integration, Machine Vision and Perception Pipelines, and Embedded Edge Software for Heavy Equipment. In doing so, this person would be responsible for influencing software architecture, implementation quality, system integration practices, and engineering decisions while mentoring other developers and partnering closely with systems, validation, product, and field teams.


What You Will Do:

  • Design, implement, test, and release production-quality C++ software for operator safety systems on heavy equipment
  • Develop and integrate software components that support operator awareness, personnel detection, collision mitigation, and safety-oriented machine responses
  • Build and maintain camera, sensor, and perception data pipelines for real-time or near-real-time safety applications
  • Lead software architecture and design trade-off discussions with a focus on reliability, maintainability, latency, diagnosability, and field supportability
  • Collaborate with systems engineering, validation, product, and field teams to translate safety-system needs into clear software requirements and implementation plans
  • Troubleshoot complex software and system issues using logs, traces, telemetry, sensor data, profiling tools, and field observations
  • Facilitate design reviews, code reviews, debugging sessions, and technical discussions across cross-functional engineering teams
  • Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to developers, systems engineers, stakeholders, and leadership
  • Mentor engineers and improve team execution through strong development practices, technical guidance, and example

What You Have:

  • Programming: 
    • Advanced C++ development experience for production software in embedded, edge, robotics, perception, or safety-oriented systems
    • Interprets system designs, software requirements, interface definitions, and test expectations for complex safety-system features
    • Strong engineering practices, debugging/profiling skills. 
    • Applies structured, maintainable software design practices in systems with real-time, reliability, and field-support constraints
  • Software Product Design/Architecture: 
    • Demonstrates experience designing software for complex systems involving sensors, perception, edge processing, machine interfaces, and safety-oriented behavior
    • Describes major software architecture alternatives and considerations. 
    • Displays experience in estimating the time to develop a specific design of a proposed product. 
    • Facilitates design reviews and walkthroughs. 
    • Analyzes benefits and drawbacks of specific software designs and architecture. 
  • Problem Solving: 
    • Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives. 
    • Helps to analyze risks and benefits of alternative approaches and obtain decisions on resolution. 
    • Uses fact-finding techniques and diagnostic tools to identify problems 
  • Technical Troubleshooting: 
    • Discovers, analyzes, and resolves software or application problems. 
    • Analyzes code, logs, and current systems as part of advanced troubleshooting. 
    • Records and reports specific technical problems, solving processes and tools that have been used. 
  • 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. 
    • Perceives lack of audience comprehension; further simplifies explanation when needed. 
  • Education Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field – or commensurate industry experience.

Consideration for Top Candidates:

  • Extensive experience as a Development Engineer supporting engineering projects on robotics, autonomous or semi-autonomous systems.
  • Strong experience with robotics, autonomy, or perception software, including one or more areas such as machine vision, sensor fusion, perception pipelines, positioning, planning, controls, or operator-assist features
  • Experience using GStreamer to build, debug, optimize, or integrate camera and video-processing pipelines
  • Hands-on machine vision experience, including camera calibration, image processing, object detection, tracking, perception model integration, or performance tuning on edge hardware
  • Experience developing software for safety-oriented systems, including requirements-driven development, hazard-aware design decisions, verification planning, and disciplined release practices
  • Prior experience supporting operator awareness, collision mitigation, personnel detection, proximity detection, or other safety-critical machine systems preferred
  • Experience with cameras and sensing technologies such as radar, LiDAR, GNSS/GPS, ultrasonic, stereo vision, thermal cameras, or other perception sensors preferred
  • Experience with real-time controllers, embedded Linux, edge computing, GPU-accelerated processing, or field-deployed compute platforms preferred
  • Experience in Construction or Mining Industries 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:

$128,470.00 - $208,770.00

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:

September 10, 2026 - September 27, 2026

About Caterpillar, Inc

Progress Rail Services Corporation, a Caterpillar company, is one of the largest integrated and diversified suppliers of railroad and transit system products and services worldwide. Since its acquisition by Caterpillar Inc. in 2006, Progress Rail has used the Caterpillar international footprint to gain quick and widespread notice and approval across the globe. Product technology, reliability and durability, along with legendary aftermarket parts and service support, have been their keys to success. Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The technology and world reach of Caterpillar, combined with the service standard and historical reliability of Progress Rail, ensures their products and services make a growing impact on the world rail industry. With their acquisition of Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD), Progress Rail is the world's largest builder of diesel-electric locomotives for all commercial railroad applications including freight, intercity passenger, commuter, switching, industrial and mining. EMD is also a global provider of diesel power engines for marine propulsion, offshore and land based oil well drilling rigs and stationary power generation. Electro-Motive is the only diesel engine manufacturer of its size to have produced more than 70,000 engines. This success stems from product reliability, serviceability, load acceptance capability, low operating costs and ease of maintenance with standardized components.

Caterpillar, Inc. Careers

Join the robust team at Caterpillar, Inc., a global leader in construction and mining equipment, where innovation drives everything we do. As part of our team, you'll engage in work that improves the world and furthers your career with every project you touch.

Work You’ll Do

At Caterpillar, Inc., you will have the opportunity to contribute to a variety of groundbreaking projects that extend across the globe. Our commitment to leadership in the industry is unwavering, and we achieve it through a culture that fosters diversity and leadership development.

Explore Job Opportunities and Growth

Caterpillar offers a wide range of job opportunities and career paths, providing a platform for professional growth and development. Whether you're interested in engineering, sales, marketing, or management, Caterpillar has a position that will utilize your unique skills and talents. We are continuously hiring innovative minds to propel our mission forward and maintain our status as industry leaders.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with a Caterpillar internship. Our internships provide invaluable workplace experience and networking opportunities that often lead to full-time employment at our company. As an intern, you will work alongside experienced professionals and gain insights that will benefit you as you advance in your career.

Benefits and Culture

Choosing a career at Caterpillar means more than just having a job. It means you're part of a team that values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We offer competitive benefits to ensure the health and well-being of our employees and their families. These benefits include health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off, alongside unique perks like professional development and diversity training programs.

Innovation and Leadership

Drive innovation and industry leadership as part of the Caterpillar team. We empower our employees to lead from their first day on the job, encouraging continuous improvement and career advancement. At Caterpillar, your ideas will shape the future of our business and the industries we serve.

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Prepare for Your Interview

Make a great first impression. Prepare for your interview at Caterpillar by reviewing common questions and practicing your responses. Tailor your resume to highlight the experiences and skills that make you the ideal candidate for the position you are applying for. At Caterpillar, Inc., every role offers the chance to make an impact. Come be a part of our team and drive the future of our global industries. Your career at Caterpillar is not just about what you'll accomplish, but how you'll grow and the innovation you'll lead. Join us and build a career that matters.
Learn more about Caterpillar, Inc
Size
107,700 employees
Market Cap
$125.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
$2.9 billion
Founded
1925
5 Year Trend
+5.8%
Revenue
$41.7 billion
NASDAQ

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