Autonomy Engineer

Autonomy Engineer

Onsite - Chillicothe, Illinois

Job Description

Client has 4 major technologies on each of their machines Payload, Grade, Safety, and Operator.
For Client, these technologies are important because customers don't just buy a machine. They care about how productive that machine is on the jobsite. A Senior Autonomy Engineer in this Client role is basically the senior technical person who makes sure Client's machine technology works correctly and consistently across different machines.
There are two roles Senior Autonomy Engineer roles:
Payload: Senior Autonomy Engineer
Operator: Senior Autonomy Engineer
Main Business Goal for both: Client is trying to make its technology work more consistently across its different machines / better overall experience.
Operators - don't have to learn a completely different experience every time they switch equipment:
Same/easier way to identify and sign in the operator to a machine (i.e.: Bluetooth, language the machine is showing)
Operator settings and preferences can be managed consistently, rather than starting completely over when moving machines
Know who is operating the machine and collect associated metrics, giving the owner visibility into how machines are being used
o Should this operator even have access to operate this machine?
Payload -
Their technology helps their customers understand how much material a machine is actually moving. That matters because accurately loading and moving material is a core part of getting work done efficiently.
Client's Autonomy & Automation team within Cat Technology is seeking a Senior Autonomy Engineer to join our Integrated Technology Solutions organization to support machine control and autonomy solutions, ensuring reliable delivery of software enabled functionality to customers.
In this role, you will own the integration of onboard and offboard systems that enable scalable, reliable deployment of software-driven capabilities across Client's machine platforms. You will work across embedded systems, cloud services, and digital ecosystems to ensure seamless end-to-end functionality from device to cloud and back.
The successful candidate will collaborate with cross functional teams to analyze requirements, develop and test software, document designs and processes, and troubleshoot complex technical issues spanning machine, system, and cloud based environments. The role also supports verification and validation activities, product releases, and ongoing improvements to existing solutions.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

In this role, you will:
Design, develop, and validate software supporting machine control and autonomy solutions, including embedded software enablement mechanisms
Work across onboard (embedded software enablement) and offboard (cloud-based systems), supporting device to cloud and cloud to device interactions.
Develop and execute formal verification and validation plans, including functional, regression, and release testing across multiple machine platforms.
Utilize bench machines, test assets, and back office engineering environments to diagnose, reproduce, and resolve complex system issues.
Analyze and troubleshoot software, data, and integration defects involving enterprise systems, digital services, and distribution workflows.
Produce and maintain design descriptions, test cases, operating procedures, and validation documentation.
Partner closely with product management, NPI teams, product support, and dealers to support launches, field follow, and continuous improvement activities.
Tools & Technology Environment
This role operates in an environment that includes:
Machine control and software enabled feature systems supporting multiple delivery models
Digital and factory software platforms and services
Structured SDLC, validation gates, and release processes
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with autonomy, machine control, or construction technology systems.
Background in software licensing, subscriptions, or entitlement systems.
Experience supporting factory, dealer, or field follow processes.
Familiarity with safety critical or regulated product releases.

Employee Value Proposition (EVP)

Work for a global fortune company
Renewable contact (long-term)
Opportunity to go internal in this role with Client
Chance to work on a strategic executive funded project that changes the way Client looks at their Autonomous machines

Work Environment

Onsite 5 days a week at Client Technical Center Building A(TC-A) in Chillicothe, Illinois

Business Drivers/Customer Impact

His team focuses on the safety technology that sits on Client machines.
The easiest way to think about his team is that they're the middleman between the customer and the engineers.
They hear what customers and operators need, especially around safety, and then work with Engineering to help turn those needs into technology.