Principal Software Engineer

Career Area:

Technology, Digital and Data

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.

Cat Digital is the digital and technology arm of Caterpillar Inc., leveraging the latest technologies to build industry leading digital solutions for our customers and dealers. With over 1.5 million connected assets worldwide, our teams use data, technology, advanced analytics, telematics, and AI capabilities to help our customers build a better, more sustainable world.

Job Summary:

Join the Cat Foresight team and help shape the future of dealer-facing applications that monitor asset health, optimize maintenance, and drive operational efficiency. As a Principal Software Engineer, you’ll lead frontend architecture and development across multiple workstreams, delivering intuitive, scalable, and high-performing user experiences for global users.

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will be at the forefront of innovation, leading all stages of software development. Your responsibilities will include refining the product vision, gathering requirements, project planning, software system design, coding, testing, release, deployment, and support. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of our products and make a significant impact on our customers' success.

What You’ll Do

• Architect and evolve frontend systems built in React.

• Lead complex projects spanning across multiple system components.

• Assist product management with new requirements by conducting feasibility studies, developing proof of concepts (POCs), and troubleshooting larger or overarching concerns.

• Partner closely with backend engineering teams to design robust APIs, align on data contracts, and ensure seamless integration between frontend components and core services.

• Optimize UI performance for large datasets and ensure accessibility across Cat Foresight modules.

• Collaborate with product owners, UX researchers, and analytics teams to align technical solutions with business goals.

• Leverage generative AI to accelerate UI development, automate repetitive coding tasks, and prototype user flows. Evaluate and integrate AI-assisted design tools to enhance developer productivity and user experience.

• Mentoring and assisting software engineers, providing technical assistance and direction.

• Lead distributed teams across India, Slovakia, and USA.

What You Will Have:

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
Software Development Life Cycle: Knowledge of software development life cycle; ability to use a structured methodology for delivering and managing new or enhanced software products to the marketplace.
Software Integration Engineering: Knowledge of software integration processes and functions; ability to design, develop and maintain interfaces and linkage to alternative platforms and software packages.
Software Product Design/Architecture: Knowledge of software product design; ability to convert market requirements into the software product design.
Software Product Technical Knowledge: Knowledge of technical aspects of a software products; ability to design, configure and integrate technical aspects of software products.

Considerations For Top Candidates:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science; Master’s Degree Preferred OR, equivalent practical experience in large-scale frontend development.

• Demonstrated experience leading software engineering projects.

• Expert experience developing customer facing applications using front-end frameworks, libraries (React preferred) and design patterns.

• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, LaunchDarkly, and agile methodologies.

• Strong understanding of web performance, security, and accessibility standards.

• Familiarity with backend services and RESTful APIs.

• Experience applying generative AI tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Figma AI, ChatGPT) in frontend workflows.

• Architectural leadership in modular, scalable frontend systems.

• Demonstrated experience leading software engineering projects.

• Domain expertise in key areas of equipment, service, user onboarding authentication and authorization for large equipment manufacturing organization.

• Expert experience in overall frontend or full-stack software development.

• Expert experience developing customer facing applications using front-end frameworks, libraries (React preferred) and design patterns.

• Extensive experience coding HTML 5, CSS3, JavaScript and Web components

• Solid Cloud production experience (preferably AWS) OR a higher-level Cloud training certification (e.g., AWS Solution Architect Associate).

• Designing, developing, deploying and maintaining software at scale.

• Developing software applications using relational and NoSQL databases.

• Application architectural patterns, such as MVC, Microservices, Event-driven, etc.

• Understanding of fundamental design principles behind a scalable application.

• Deploying software using CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GoCD, Azure DevOps etc.

• Deploying and maintaining software using public clouds such as AWS or Azure.

• Working within an Agile framework (ideally Scrum).

• Must demonstrate solid knowledge of computer science fundamentals like data structures and algorithms.

• Passion for technology and an eagerness to contribute to a team-oriented environment

• Demonstrated leadership on small to medium-scale projects impacting strategic priorities

• Excellent communication and presentational skills.

What You Will Get:

Working with a Fortune 100 leader, you can build your career on a global scale and take advantage of development opportunities with emerging technologies. We’ve created an inclusive environment for you to explore your passions, make an impact and do the work that really matters. Join Us.

Additional Information:

#LI

#BI

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed to and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of “essential job functions” as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Summary Pay Range:

$144,960.00 - $235,440.00

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

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.

Posting Dates:

August 20, 2025 - August 30, 2025

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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