Principal Perception Architect - System Integration

About the Role

At Caterpillar, technology always has a purpose: solving our customers' toughest challenges. Through Cat Technology, you’ll build the intelligence layer that connects machines, data, and people to make jobsites safer, more productive, and more sustainable. You’ll work with one of the most unique data foundations—over 1.6 million connected assets generating real-world data daily—enabling AI models, edge computing architectures, and software systems that scale across fleets, products, and industries.

As a Principal Perception Architect, you will own the front-end perception sensor system architecture for autonomous machine platforms. This role focuses on selecting, evaluating, integrating, and validating sensors such as cameras, lidar, radar, IMU, GNSS, ultrasonic, and other sensing technologies to ensure reliable data streams for downstream services and platforms. You will also collaborate with the existing Data Collection Kit to assess current sensor capabilities, integration gaps, and improvement opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Define perception sensor selection and evaluation strategy across cameras, lidar, radar, IMU, GNSS, ultrasonic, and other sensing technologies.
• Own perception sensor integration architecture, including sensor interfaces, driver software requirements, data stream readiness, startup behavior, configuration, health monitoring, diagnostics, and status reporting.
• Assess the existing Data Collection Kit to identify sensor coverage gaps, data quality issues, integration limitations, interface constraints, and improvement opportunities.
• Identify and resolve sensing coverage gaps across the machine, including blind spots, field-of-view and range limitations, placement constraints, and data reliability risks.
• Define sensor mounting, electrical, network, cabling, packaging, environmental protection, and serviceability requirements to ensure reliable integration into machine platforms.

Requirements

• Analytical Thinking: Expert knowledge of techniques and tools for effective analysis; ability to determine root causes of problems and create alternative solutions.
• Platform Architecture: Expert knowledge of technologies and methods to design processing mechanisms and roadmaps for business application systems; ability to design and deploy supportive interfaces.
• Data Architecture: Expert knowledge of processes, techniques, and factors affecting data architecture; ability to design blueprints for integrating data resources to support business processes.
• Effective Communications: Expert understanding of communication concepts; ability to transmit, receive, and interpret ideas and information accurately.
• Organizational Leadership: Expert knowledge of leadership concepts; ability to use strategies to enlist others in setting and achieving objectives.

Qualifications

• Strong experience with perception sensor systems, including cameras, lidar, radar, IMU, GNSS, ultrasonic, or similar sensing technologies.
• Experience evaluating, selecting, and integrating perception sensors for autonomous vehicles or robotics (familiarity with construction machine applications is a plus).
• Experience with sensor interfaces, cabling, networking, power, synchronization, driver software, data streaming, diagnostics, and health monitoring.
• Solid understanding of sensor placement, field of view, machine coverage, blind spot analysis, mounting, packaging, vibration, environmental protection, and serviceability.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with sensor suppliers, machine platform, edge platform, data collection, and hardware/software teams.

Additional Details

This position requires full-time work at the Irving, TX office (Dallas). Domestic relocation assistance and visa sponsorship are available. Up to 25% domestic travel may be required.

Pay

Pay Range: $147,760.00 - $240,110.00. Compensation and benefits may vary depending on job level, market location, individual performance, and experience.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Paid time off (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.