Career Area:
Technology, Digital and Data
Job Description:
Job Summary:
The Spatial Intelligence Architect owns how the machine reasons about space to plan and get work done — turning intelligence into precise motion and implement action on the jobsite.
The Principal Digital Architect for Spatial Intelligence is responsible for defining the spatial-reasoning architecture that lets autonomous machines reason about space, terrain, reach, and their own footprint and implement to plan and execute work. Squarely within Robotics — reasoning, planning, VLA, and behavior generation — this role turns upstream environment inputs into motion and implement planning: positioning the machine and planning how its work tool (bucket, blade, boom) does the job, not just navigating a path. The architect defines the spatial reasoning behind task and motion planning, spatially grounded VLA, and behavior generation, and sets the standards and interfaces for what Robotics consumes from upstream teams without owning those upstream functions.
Bottom line, you are the spatial reasoning that turns an autonomous machine’s plans into real work on the jobsite.
What You Will Do:
- Developing detailed architecture deliverables to solve business problems.
- Designing an application’s technical infrastructure, such as specific databases, programming languages, utilities, and testing approaches.
- Leading the evaluation and deployment of new technologies to add or enhance existing digital technical capabilities.
- Participating in addressing business requirements for applications and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver digital solutions that meets business results.
What You Will Have:
- ANALYTICAL THINKING: 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.
- APPLICATION DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE: Knowledge of application design and architecture principles and practices; ability to utilize application design methodologies, tools, and techniques to convert business requirements and logical models into a technical application design.
- PLATFORM ARCHITECTURE: 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.
- REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS: Knowledge of tools, methods, and techniques of requirement analysis; ability to elicit, analyze and record required business functionality and non-functionality requirements to ensure the success of a system or software development project.
- TARGET ARCHITECTURE: Knowledge of target architecture; ability to develop the IT blueprint and roadmap while aligning the architecture and processes with business strategies and objectives.
Top Candidates Will Have:
- SPATIAL REASONING & MOTION PLANNING – Strong experience architecting spatial reasoning and real-time motion planning for physical machines or autonomous vehicles — reasoning about geometry, free space, reach, and constraints to plan feasible, goal-directed movement.
- IMPLEMENT & MANIPULATION PLANNING – Experience planning coordinated motion of an actuated implement or manipulator (e.g., excavator bucket, dozer blade, boom, or robot arm) to execute work — a strong plus; autonomous-driving motion-planning experience is equally valued.
- SPATIALLY GROUNDED VLA & BEHAVIOR – Familiarity with grounding language and actions in a machine’s spatial context (VLA / embodied AI) and driving behavior generation and decision-making from spatial reasoning.
- AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS & DECISION ARCHITECTURE – Deep understanding of how planning, controls, and behavior integrate to deliver safe autonomous action; ability to define architectural patterns, evaluate tradeoffs, and guide engineering teams through complex design decisions.
- STRATEGIC ARCHITECTURE LEADERSHIP – Ability to influence senior leaders, define architectural roadmaps, establish standards and patterns, govern technology decisions, and provide technical direction across multiple engineering organizations without direct authority.
- Progressive career in software engineering and architecture with a focus on autonomy, motion planning, or robotics (senior or principal level).
- Strong understanding of Agile SDLC implementation in public cloud eco-system including environments management, test automation, peer review, CI/CD, resource optimization, etc.
- Excellent communication skills and be able to deal with sensitive issues, mentor and coach and/or persuade others on new technologies, new applications, or potential solutions.
Additional Details:
- This position requires the candidate towork full-time at the Irving, TX office (Dallas)
- Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.
- Visa sponsorship is NOT available with this position.
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
Posting Dates:
