Simulation Platform Engineering Lead

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. Help Build the Future of Caterpillar – Be Part of What's Next in Autonomous Construction Sites At Caterpillar, technology always has a purpose, which is to solve our customers' toughest challenges. 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. Role Definition: The Simulation Platform Engineering Lead will provide hands-on technical leadership for the design, development, integration, and operation of the shared simulation platform supporting automation, robotics, and digital twin engineering. The role will translate platform direction established by principal engineers and architects into working software, reusable services, and reliable developer workflows. The Lead will own major platform components and guide engineers delivering cloud, on-premises, and GPU-enabled simulation capabilities. Responsibilities: Lead the design and implementation of core simulation platform and backend services supporting digital twin, robotics, autonomy, and verification workflows. Translate platform architecture and technical roadmaps into executable designs, backlog priorities, engineering plans, and software deliverables. Own technical delivery for simulation execution and lifecycle services, including job submission, configuration, scheduling, monitoring, results collection, and failure recovery. Define and implement APIs, SDKs, service contracts, and integration patterns that allow simulation tools and engineering applications to use the platform consistently. Design scalable platform solutions using Kubernetes, Docker, distributed systems, infrastructure automation, and cloud-native services across AWS, Azure, on-premises, and shared compute environments. Build and improve continuous integration, automated testing, packaging, artifact management, deployment, and release workflows for simulation software. Establish observability standards including logs, metrics, traces, dashboards, alerting, capacity visibility, and operational health for simulation services. Support GPU-enabled and high-performance simulation workloads, including resource scheduling, workload isolation, performance tuning, and reliable execution at scale. Lead integration of NVIDIA Omniverse, Isaac Sim, Unreal Engine, scenario systems, and other simulation frameworks with the broader platform ecosystem. Create reusable developer tooling, command-line utilities, templates, and self-service workflows that improve onboarding and engineering productivity. Partner with the Scenario Framework, Digital Twin, Robotics, Autonomy, Controls, QA, Product, and enterprise technology teams to ensure end-to-end system integration. Lead technical design reviews, code reviews, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and resolution of complex platform and integration issues. Improve platform reliability, scalability, security, maintainability, and performance through measurable engineering practices. Mentor engineers, define implementation standards, and promote modularity, documentation, automated testing, and clear ownership. Identify technical risks, dependencies, and delivery blockers and work with principal engineers and engineering leadership to resolve them. Qualifications Strong software engineering experience building simulation platforms, developer platforms, distributed systems, backend services, or cloud-native applications. Hands-on expertise in C++, Python, Go, Java, C#, or other relevant programming languages, with the ability to review and guide production-quality implementations. Strong experience with Kubernetes, Docker, Linux, CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure automation, and software packaging and release practices. Experience designing and implementing services across AWS, Azure, on-premises, or hybrid environments. Knowledge of simulation architecture, runtime services, workload orchestration, asset and configuration management, and system integration. Experience with NVIDIA Omniverse, Isaac Sim, Unreal Engine, Gazebo, AirSim, CARLA, or comparable simulation technologies is preferred. Experience supporting GPU-based workloads, HPC environments, distributed execution, or large-scale engineering compute is preferred. Knowledge of monitoring, logging, telemetry, observability, reliability, performance engineering, networking, and security practices. Experience creating reusable APIs, SDKs, tools, libraries, and services for internal engineering teams. Understanding of simulation verification and validation, automated regression testing, SIL, HIL, and continuous integration of simulation. Demonstrated ability to lead technical delivery, mentor engineers, and coordinate implementation across multiple teams. Excellent communication, troubleshooting, system integration, and technical decision-making skills. Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related discipline; master's degree preferred. Typically 8+ years of software engineering experience, including leadership of complex technical implementation and system integration. Additional Details: This position requires the candidate to work full-time at the Irving, TX office (Dallas) Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position. Visa sponsorship is available with this position. Summary Pay Range: $128,470.00 - $208,770.00 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: 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. Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community .