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.
Principal Software Engineer – MineStar Modernization & Innovation
Seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to be part of an expert group of senior software engineers within the Autonomy and Automation Product Group, driving technical modernization and innovation of MineStar software systems.
This role is accountable for leading high-impact technical initiatives, including modernization of legacy Java-based systems, evaluation of emerging technologies, and execution of experiments and proof-of-concepts (POCs) that shape future product architecture and engineering direction. The position builds on strong technical leadership foundations, evolving beyond team-level ownership to influence engineering practices, architecture, and delivery across the broader development community.
The Principal Software Engineer works closely with product, platform, and engineering teams to translate strategic technology direction into scalable, production-ready software solutions, while mentoring engineers and enabling adoption of modern development and AI-driven engineering practices. This role operates with minimal day-to-day direction and is expected to thrive in ambiguity, independently shaping future-focused designs that bridge legacy constraints while enabling modernization progress. Success requires strong engineering judgment, a bias for action, and the ability to navigate cross-organization dependencies to drive outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Required Skills & Experience
10+ years of experience in software engineering, including strong hands-on development and technical leadership experience
Proven experience in Java/J2EE-based application development, including leading design and delivery of scalable services
Strong expertise in software architecture, design patterns, object-oriented design, and low-level design principles
Experience modernizing legacy enterprise applications and transitioning to microservices-based architectures
Hands-on experience with Spring frameworks, REST/JSON APIs, and distributed system design
Comprehensive knowledge of database technologies, including Postgres, SQL, and NoSQL, with proven ability to design, optimize, and troubleshoot data solutions.
Strong experience with data access technologies (JPA/Hibernate/JDBC)
Experience with testing frameworks (e.g., JUnit) and building high-quality, testable software
Proficiency with Git (branching, merging, tagging), Maven or equivalent build tools, and strong debugging skills
Experience leading or contributing to POCs, innovation initiatives, or modernization programs
Strong experience working with cross-functional and global teams, influencing without direct authority
Excellent technical communication, mentoring, and stakeholder engagement skills
Experience with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker) and working with DevOps/CI-CD pipelines
Solid understanding of Kubernetes for orchestration of containerized applications
Experience working with software systems in autonomous vehicles, mining, construction, or similar industrial domains
Understanding of onboard (machine) and offboard (cloud/office) system architectures and their integration in distributed autonomy platforms
Familiarity with communication protocols and networking concepts used in distributed systems (e.g., TCP/IP, messaging systems, telemetry pipelines)
Experience designing or integrating systems involving machine-to-cloud or edge-to-cloud communication
Preferred Qualifications
Posting Dates:
May 20, 2026 - June 2, 2026
Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply
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