Caterpillar, Inc

Principal Technical Product Manager - Autonomy Platform Capabilities

Caterpillar, Inc$147K — $240K *
Transportation
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years experience in Product Management, Systems Engineering, or Architecture roles
  • Strong knowledge of systems architecture, cloud infrastructure, and APIs
  • Experience leading cross-functional teams in execution of complex projects
  • Proven ability to create and implement platform strategies and ecosystem initiatives
  • Expertise in aligning technical solutions with business objectives
  • Effective communication skills for diverse stakeholder engagement
  • Understanding of autonomous systems and their integration with digital platforms

Responsibilities

  • Define and manage work across multiple teams to maximize value of autonomy ecosystem
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to elaborate system-level features and infrastructure requirements
  • Establish acceptance criteria for platform capabilities and architectural services
  • Align Technical Product Managers on product roadmaps and shared services
  • Communicate the long-term architectural vision and ecosystem strategy
  • Maintain roadmaps addressing growth, security, and operational efficiency
  • Identify and manage dependencies and risks across multiple domains

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits
  • Paid time off plan including vacation and holidays
  • 401(k) savings plans
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Career development opportunities
  • Incentive bonuses
  • Life and disability insurance
  • Parental leave and adoption benefits
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Employee discounts and assistance programs
Full Job Description
Career Area:
Technology, Digital and Data

Job Description:

Job Summary:

The Principal Technical Product Manager - Autonomy Platform Capabilities leads the alignment, adoption, and execution of strategic architectural and infrastructure initiatives that enable autonomous solutions at scale. This role serves as the primary orchestrator across architectural domains, driving convergence on system architecture, platform strategy, and foundational infrastructure investments that support multiple autonomy product and technology areas.

Working closely with Architecture, System Engineering, Platform Engineering, Data, Safety, Deployment, and Infrastructure teams, the Principal Technical Product Manager drives the development and evolution of architectural frameworks, platform capabilities, integration patterns, and shared infrastructure required to build scalable, interoperable, and sustainable autonomy solutions. The role aligns priorities, resolves cross-domain dependencies, and helps translate long-term architectural vision into actionable roadmaps and investment strategies.

The position partners closely with Technical Product Managers and engineering leaders to ensure architectural decisions, platform evolution, and infrastructure investments remain aligned with business objectives and product outcomes. By accelerating adoption of common architectural patterns, shared platforms, and foundational infrastructure, the Principal Technical Product Manager helps reduce complexity, increase capability reuse, and strengthen the technical foundations of the autonomy ecosystem.

What You Will Do:

Maximize the value of the autonomy ecosystem and define work across multiple scrum teams, platforms, and architectural domains. Collaborate with Technical Product Managers, Product Owners, System Engineering, Architecture, Platform Engineering, Data, Safety, Deployment, and Infrastructure teams to own and progressively elaborate system-level Epics, Features, architectural capabilities, and infrastructure requirements.

  • Own definition of acceptance criteria for platform capabilities, architectural services, ecosystem infrastructure, and foundational technology investments.
  • Drive alignment across domain Technical Product Managers to ensure product roadmaps leverage common architectures, platforms, and shared services.
  • Define and communicate the long-term architectural vision, ecosystem strategy, and infrastructure roadmap supporting autonomous solutions.
  • Partner with Architecture and Engineering teams to ensure technical solutions align with enterprise architecture principles and long-term scalability objectives.
  • Establish and maintain architectural roadmaps that support future growth, interoperability, maintainability, security, and operational efficiency.
  • Identify, manage, and communicate ecosystem-level dependencies, technical debt, architectural risks, and infrastructure constraints across multiple product domains.
  • Drive tradeoff discussions and prioritization decisions balancing business value, platform adoption, architectural sustainability, technical complexity, and delivery timelines.
  • Ensure autonomy products and services integrate effectively through common interfaces, standards, platforms, and architectural patterns.
  • Establish and maintain visibility into platform adoption, ecosystem health, architectural maturity, infrastructure readiness, and strategic technology investments.
  • Partner with Data, Safety, Deployment, and Infrastructure teams to ensure foundational services support system-level reliability, scalability, security, and operational readiness.
  • Employee is also responsible for performing other job duties as assigned by Caterpillar management from time to time.

What You Will Have:
  • Technical Product Management: Knowledge of product strategy, roadmap management, prioritization, requirements management, backlog development, and product lifecycle practices; ability to manage autonomous platform and infrastructure products that enable multiple business and technical domains (Required)
  • Business Analysis: Knowledge of business analysis and the set of tasks, techniques and tools required to identify business, platform, ecosystem, and stakeholder needs; ability to align architecture and infrastructure investments to deliver long-term business value.
  • Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze architectural tradeoffs, ecosystem dependencies, technology investments, risks, and strategic priorities to reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
  • Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively communicate architectural vision, platform strategy, infrastructure priorities, technical risks, and ecosystem roadmaps across technical and non-technical stakeholders..
  • Systems Architecture and Infrastructure: Knowledge of systems architecture, distributed systems, cloud platforms, infrastructure services, integration frameworks, APIs, interface management, and technology ecosystems required to deliver scalable autonomous solutions.
  • Platform and Ecosystem Leadership: Knowledge of platform product management, shared service development, ecosystem enablement, adoption strategies, and reusable capability development; ability to drive alignment across multiple products and technical organizations.
  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Knowledge of organizational alignment, stakeholder management, conflict resolution, and cross-functional execution; ability to drive collaboration and accountability across architecture, engineering, infrastructure, data, and product teams.
  • Autonomous Systems Knowledge: Knowledge of autonomous systems, machine integration, safety, data platforms, deployment infrastructure, customer operations, and end-to-end solution delivery; ability to understand how architectural decisions impact overall mission success.


Consideration For Top Candidates:
  • Lead complex autonomy platform and infrastructure initiatives by aligning multiple product domains around a common architectural vision and ecosystem strategy.
  • At least 8 years of experience in Product Management, Platform Product Management, Technical Product Management, Systems Engineering, Architecture, Program Management, or related technical leadership roles.
  • Demonstrated experience defining and executing architecture roadmaps, platform strategies, or ecosystem infrastructure initiatives supporting multiple products and teams.
  • Experience driving architectural alignment, platform adoption, integration standards, and shared capability development across complex technical organizations.
  • Strong understanding of systems architecture, cloud infrastructure, platform engineering, distributed systems, APIs, data platforms, and ecosystem development.
  • Experience balancing short-term product delivery needs with long-term architectural sustainability and technology strategy.
  • Experience influencing technical direction and investment decisions across engineering, architecture, infrastructure, and product leadership organizations.
  • Experience preparing platforms and infrastructure for scaling, operational readiness, enterprise adoption, and future product expansion.
  • Cat domain knowledge and experience supporting autonomous machines, connected products, advanced technology programs, digital platforms, or large-scale integrated ecosystems preferred.


Summary Pay Range:

$147,760.00 - $240,110.00

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 not available for this position.

Posting Dates:

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.

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.

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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.

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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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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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