Autonomy Validation Specialist

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. This position supports the Caterpillar Autonomous Program and plays a critical role in delivering high‑quality, technology‑ready autonomous platforms. The Autonomy Validation Lead will drive System Integration and Validation (SI&V) activities, primarily conducted in laboratory environments and closely coordinated with Test Track and Proving Grounds teams. The role involves hands‑on leadership of hardware and software integration, and validation across a wide range of onboard and offboard autonomous, remote control and semi-autonomous technology components. You will work across cross‑functional teams to ensure validation activities are aligned with New Product Introduction (NPI) timelines and overall program milestones. This role is critical to ensuring autonomous systems are robust, validated, and production-ready. You will be at the center of integrating cutting-edge technologies, driving execution discipline, and enabling teams to deliver safely, efficiently, and at scale.

Lead and manage end‑to‑end system integration and validation (SI&V) activities for autonomous platforms Create, manage, and maintain comprehensive test plans and assign execution to multiple test teams Track test execution progress, manage risks, and ensure timely issue resolution Develop and maintain dashboards and metrics to provide clear visibility into validation status Actively participate in escape retrospectives and drive corrective and preventive actions Support teams with bench design, build, and commissioning activities Collaborate closely with Systems teams and Product teams on validation timelines and requirements. What You Have: Industry Knowledge: Knowledge of mining technology, trends, directions, major issues, regulatory considerations, and trendsetters; ability to apply industry knowledge appropriately to diverse situations. Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations. Software Product Testing: Knowledge of software product testing; ability to design, plan, and execute testing strategies and tactics to ensure software product quality and adherence to stated requirements including application of workflow tools (ex. HP Quality Center, Azure DevOps). Experience using Azure DevOps, JIRA, Confluence, or Similar ALM Tools for test and program management. Experience with SIL, MIL, and/or HIL concepts. Programming: Knowledge of relevant programming languages and tools; ability to test, debug, troubleshoot software algorithms. Technical Troubleshooting: Knowledge of technical troubleshooting approaches, tools, and techniques; ability to anticipate, recognize, and resolve technical issues on hardware, software, application, or operation. Demonstrated ability to manage complex validation efforts across multiple teams and environments.

Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science or a related field. Consideration for Top Candidates: Advanced Degree in Engineering, Computer Science or related field preferred. Experience with design, development, validation, or product support role of complex autonomous vehicle systems Knowledge in iterative testing using agile methodologies. Understanding of V-model for verification & validation Experience with model-based simulation programs.