Senior Software Engineer - 3D Perception

Career Area

Engineering

Job Description

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live.

Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Technology is a competitive differentiator. We collaborate with partners across the enterprise to advance technologies including autonomy and automation, which helps enhance site safety, productivity and efficiency across customer operations worldwide.

Our focus isn’t just on what we build, but how we build it. We scale technology solutions across the business. We spearhead product development tools and processes. We collaborate with our partners to provide a seamless experience for our customers. We are obsessed with speed, simplicity and customer outcomes.

Cat Technology also owns enterprise-wide initiatives in innovation, research and development, manufacturing automation and advanced materials, ensuring Caterpillar continues to lead the industry in technological excellence and engineering innovation.

Job Summary

As a Senior Autonomy Engineer, your responsibilities in software development will be focused on positioning and localization, you’ll collaborate with team members to prototype and bring to production algorithms that enable autonomous & semiautonomous systems to localize robustly within the world around them.

This includes estimating position and altitude absolutely but also relatively to terrain features and static or mobile equipment, and implementing filters using perception-based, inertial, and GNSS inputs. Every day you will work with your team to solve real world problems by selecting the right approach, developing quick prototypes & bringing them to production.

The localization developer will participate in various aspects of the development process including design, documentation, coding, product quality, and validation. To excel in this role, you must be able to write and test high quality production code and enjoy solving challenging problems.

What You Will Do

• Research and design of localization algorithms and software
• Develop production quality C++ software including design, documentation, coding, product quality, and validation
• Contributes to requirements generation and architecture design considerations for the localization architecture
• Support functional safety software design and validation process
• Collaborate and mentor localization team members to execute on goals

Problem Solving

What You Will Have

• Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives.
• Helps to analyze risks and benefits of alternative approaches and obtain decision on resolution.
• Uses fact-finding techniques and diagnostic tools to identify problems

Software Development Life Cycle

• Identifies common issues, problems, and considerations for each phase of the life cycle.
• Interprets product development plans and functional documentation.

Programming

• Excellency in C++
• Fluency in Python
• Interprets application system designs and program specifications.
• Strong engineering practices, debugging/profiling skills.
• Applies structured programming techniques to structured environments.

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.

Considerations For Top Candidates

• Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or PhD in an accredited Robotics, Electrical or Computer engineering or Computer Science degree
• 4+ years of Robotics/Autonomous solution experience illustrating deep technical domain expertise
• Proven experience implementing filtering solutions including Error State, Kalman and Extended Kalman
• In-depth knowledge of Inertial Measurement technology and Inertial Based Navigation and/or Guidance Systems
• Ability to survey literature for ideas and convert research papers into production implementation
• Knowledge of robotics and frameworks such as Robot Operating System (ROS)
• Strong foundation in mathematics and fundamentals (3D geometry, linear algebra, statistical error modeling including Gauss Markov Processes)
• Ability to work in various coordinate system references and perform transformations between
• Understanding of Physics based modeling, vehicle modeling and dynamics

Summary Pay Range

$112,710.00 - $183,140.00

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 available for eligible applicants.

Posting Dates

July 14, 2026 - July 26, 2026

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

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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