Data Engineer – Physical AI Platform

Career Area:

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.

Help Build the Future of Caterpillar –

At Caterpillar, technology always has a purpose, which is to solve our customers’ toughest challenges. Through Cat Technology, we are solving problems by building the intelligence layer that connects machines, data, and people to make jobsites safer, more productive, and more sustainable. By combining deep domain expertise in physical systems with software, connectivity, autonomy, and AI, we deliver solutions that work in the real world—on real jobsites, at global scale.

You’ll build and deploy against one of the most unique data foundations—over 1.6 million connected assets generating real-world data daily. These data and platform capabilities are enabling the development of AI models, edge computing architectures, and software systems that scale across fleets, products, and industries. The result will be a new generation of machines that continuously learn, improve, and deliver performance at scale.

Be Part of What’s Next in Autonomous Construction Sites

Construction autonomy is one of the most complex challenges in applied AI, and at Caterpillar, advancements in physical AI, simulation, sensing, and edge computing are turning things that once felt impossible—intelligent machines operating in dynamic jobsites—into reality.

Our connected ecosystem brings together massive volumes of high-quality data to create a foundation where engineers like you can build and deploy against.

If this work motivates you, we invite you to join our team. In these roles, you’ll work at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds. You’ll help design and deliver intelligent systems that enable machines to perceive their environment, make informed decisions, and support safer, more productive operations.

Apply today to build the new era of construction autonomy at Caterpillar.

Job Summary

As a Data Engineer, you will actively participate in designing, building, and maintaining scalable data pipelines, microservices, and cloud-based data systems in an agile development environment, with a focus on performance, reliability, and data quality.

What You Will Do:

• Design, build, and optimize data pipelines and microservices using Python for real-time and batch processing
• Develop cloud-based data ingestion solutions using AWS services (Kinesis, S3, DynamoDB, EventBridge, etc.)
• Build and maintain data integration workflows for source data pipelines aligned to CI Autonomy
• Translate business requirements into reliable data workflows, mappings, and system designs
• Implement automated testing and validation to ensure data integrity across distributed systems
• Monitor and troubleshoot pipelines using tools like CloudWatch to maintain reliability

What You Will Have:

• Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Ability to analyze issues in distributed data systems and deliver scalable solutions
• Effective Communication: Ability to document data flows, mappings, and system behavior clearly for cross-team use
• Software Development: Experience building backend systems and pipelines using Python, Java, and modern frameworks
• Software Development Life Cycle: Experience delivering solutions in an agile environment
• Software Integration Engineering: Experience integrating APIs, streaming platforms, and databases
• Software Product Design/Architecture: Ability to design scalable, event-driven data systems
• Software Product Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of AWS services and data engineering tools
• Software Product Testing: Experience implementing testing strategies to ensure data quality and system reliability

Top Candidates Will Have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field
• 2+ years development experience on modern, large scale, complex data platforms
• 3+ years developing and deploying Java or Python solutions to a production environment
• Experience building high-throughput, scalable data pipelines
• Strong hands-on experience with AWS data services (Kinesis, S3, DynamoDB, EventBridge, etc.)
• Proficiency in SQL, including data quality and validation practices
• Proficiency in deploying software using CI/CD tools such as Azure DevOps, Jira, Jenkins, etc.
• Experience developing microservices that support real-time data ingestion
• Experience developing software applications using relational and noSQL databases
• Ability to ensure data integrity across distributed and streaming systems
• Experience with API development and secure integrations (OAuth 2.0)
• Proven experience with monitoring, testing, and automation in large-scale data environments

Additional Details:

• This position requires the candidate to work full-time at the Chicago, IL office
• Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.
• Visa sponsorship is available with this position.

Summary Pay Range:

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:

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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