Lead 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.
Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.
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:
The Lead Software Engineer is responsible for developing and maintaining the Caterpillar Product Content (CPC) platform. This platform delivers product and parts data (including specifications, descriptions, images, videos, and marketing content) to internal digital properties such as Cat.com, Shop.cat.com, Parts.cat.com, and dealer systems.
This role collaborates closely with the broader CPC team, requiring strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills. We're especially interested in engineers who bring hands-on AI/agentic development experience and are comfortable applying spec-driven development practices to accelerate delivery and improve quality across the platform.
What You Will Do:

• Design, modify, develop, and implement scalable, cloud-native software applications and services for enterprise platforms using modern software engineering practices and agile methodologies
• Gather and clarify business and technical stakeholder requirements, and resolve application, integration, and workflow challenges through automation, optimization, and process improvement
• Write high-quality Java source code, REST APIs, reusable software components, and technical documentation for new applications and services, and enhance and modernize existing solutions
• Use automated testing frameworks, CI/CD pipelines, code-quality tools, and monitoring solutions to perform testing, quality assurance, deployment validation, troubleshooting, and ongoing maintenance
• Design and implement RESTful APIs, microservices, asynchronous processing, and event-driven integrations with a focus on security, scalability, reliability, performance, and maintainability
• Design, develop, and support cloud-native solutions on AWS, leveraging appropriate serverless, container, database, messaging, and integration technologies

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.
Software Development: Knowledge of software development tools and activities; ability to produce software products or systems in line with product requirements.
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.
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.
Considerations For Top Candidates:

• Proficiency in Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, SQL, microservices, and enterprise backend application development
• Hands-on experience with AWS and cloud-native architectures, including services such as Lambda, ECS/Fargate, RDS/Aurora, SQS, and SNS
• Experience designing and implementing RESTful APIs, service integrations, asynchronous processing, and event-driven applications
• Experience with relational databases and application data-access patterns
• Experience with automated testing, CI/CD, source control, application monitoring, and production troubleshooting
• Experience with Agile development methodologies and the software development lifecycle (SDLC)

Preferred Qualifications:

• AWS certification or advanced hands-on experience developing production workloads on AWS
• Experience with enterprise application modernization and migration to cloud-native architectures
• Experience with Docker, containerized applications, and modern application deployment patterns
• Knowledge of API security, authentication and authorization, application security, performance optimization, and observability
• Experience with high-volume, highly available, distributed enterprise applications
• Experience providing technical leadership, architecture guidance, design and code reviews, and mentoring to software engineers

Additional Details:

• This position requires the candidate to be in Chicago, IL, Peoria, IL or Dallas, TX
• Relocation assistance is NOT available for this position
• Visa sponsorship is NOT available with this position.
• This position will require up to 10% travel

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.
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.
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
Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Posting Dates:
October 1, 2026 - October 8, 2026
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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