Principal Data Scientist

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.
Job Summary:
As part of Global Quality initiatives focused on customer back quality, process modernization, and value chain connectivity, this role accelerates the adoption of Artificial Intelligence across Global Quality and the Global Quality Data Domain.
The AI Analyst serves as an individual contributor, leading Global Quality-sponsored AI initiatives while supporting enterprise AI projects that consume or leverage Global Quality data. This role partners closely with the AI Center of Excellence (AI COE) and plays a key role in improving data quality, accessibility, and analytics capabilities that support Modern Manufacturing initiatives.
The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of quality domain knowledge, data science expertise, and software or analytics experience, with the ability to translate complex data into meaningful business insights.
What You Will Do:

• Lead Global Quality AI initiatives, serving as an individual contributor and technical expert.
• Act as a primary point of contact between Global Quality and the AI Center of Excellence (AI COE).
• Direct large‑scale data gathering, data mining, and data processing efforts, including development of robust data models.
• Support data staging, data views, and data definitions across enterprise platforms including Snowflake, Alation, and LeanIX.
• Drive data quality improvements within native applications and enterprise data environments.
• Enable Modern Manufacturing initiatives through improved data access, structure, and analytics capabilities.
• Define requirements and scope for advanced data analyses and AI solutions.
• Apply machine learning, natural language processing, and text analytics to unlock insights from structured and unstructured data.
• Conduct research on data model optimization and algorithms to improve accuracy, scalability, and effectiveness.
• Present insights, findings, and recommendations to stakeholders using data visualization tools such as Power BI.

Education requirement:

• Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree or higher, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge through extensive professional expertise.

What skills you will have:
Business Statistics

• Apply advanced statistical methods to analyze trends, variation, probability, and correlations across complex datasets.
• Design and execute statistical evaluations that inform data‑driven business decisions.
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert in statistical analysis, guiding best practices across the organization.
• Establish guidelines for selecting and applying appropriate statistical techniques.

Machine Learning

• Lead development and application of machine learning algorithms to solve complex business and quality challenges.
• Identify opportunities where machine learning solutions can improve processes, insights, or outcomes.
• Guide organizational strategy related to AI and machine learning adoption.
• Stay current on emerging machine learning trends and technologies and assess their applicability to the business.

Query and Database Access Tools

• Demonstrate deep expertise in query and database access tools across multiple platforms.
• Lead evaluation and adoption of new data access technologies and techniques.
• Provide technical guidance on efficient data extraction, transformation, and usage.
• Help establish and update technical standards related to data access and querying.

Additional Information:
This position requires the candidate to work onsite five days a week at the Mossville, IL or East Peoria, IL office.
Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.
Visa sponsorship is NOT available with this position.
This position may require up to 10% travel.
Summary Pay Range:
$147,760.00 - $240,110.00
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 not available for this position.
Posting Dates:
April 1, 2026 - April 9, 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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