Principal Search Engineering Lead (E-Commerce)

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.
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:
You'll lead innovation in search technology, shaping the future of how users interact with information. This is an opportunity to work on cutting-edge solutions in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment.
eCommerce is a key digital enabler to Caterpillar's aftermarket parts and services growth strategy. Delivering on the Caterpillar brand promise of premium, high-quality solutions is an important element in accelerating the development and deployment of Caterpillar's expanded capabilities in eCommerce.
The Principal Search Engineering Lead (E-Commerce) is responsible for setting the technical direction and overseeing the execution of advanced search solutions. This role combines strategic vision, hands-on technical expertise, and leadership to build scalable, high-performance search platforms that deliver exceptional user experiences.
What You Will Do:

• Technical Strategy: Define and implement a long-term technical vision for the search platform to ensure scalability and adaptability to growing data volumes and query complexity.
• Team Leadership: Mentor and guide a team of search engineers through technical reviews, best practices, and collaborative problem-solving.
• System Architecture: Design and deploy distributed, fault-tolerant search systems, including data pipelines and infrastructure optimizations.
• Feature Development: Introduce advanced capabilities such as NLP, vector search, and personalization to enhance relevance and accuracy.
• Data Analysis & Optimization: Establish KPIs (e.g., precision, recall) and leverage analytics to continuously improve algorithm performance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with product managers, data scientists, and engineering teams to align search initiatives with business objectives.

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.
Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
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..
Considerations For Top Candidates:
Relevant work experience for a Principal Search Engineering Lead (E-Commerce)in the context of online parts e-commerce requires specific expertise in product discovery, inventory management complexities, and highly specialized search domains. Also, candidates with the following experience:

• E-Commerce Search Dominance: Proven track record of designing and delivering search systems that directly drive e-commerce revenue and customer experience for a parts catalog (automotive, industrial, electronics, etc.).
• Complex Attribute & Fitment Logic: Extensive experience managing and implementing search solutions that handle intricate part compatibility and "fitment" data (e.g., Year/Make/Model selectors, CAD data, cross-referencing industry standard part numbers, VIN decoding).
• Platform Implementation (Coveo/Elasticsearch): Hands-on experience using platforms like Coveo to manage large, highly structured product catalogs, leveraging Coveo's merchandising tools, ML models for product recommendations, and facet navigation customization.
• Inventory & Data Integration: Expertise in integrating search platforms with complex ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) and PIMs (Product Information Management systems) to ensure real-time inventory accuracy and detailed product data synchronization.
• Technical SEO & Discovery: Experience optimizing search interfaces for both user experience and search engine optimization (SEO), ensuring parts are discoverable externally through search engines and internally through intuitive navigation.
• Conversion Optimization: Demonstrated success in improving e-commerce KPIs such as conversion rates, average order value, and reducing "no results found" rates through data analysis and targeted search enhancements.

Additional skills:

• Deep expertise across several technical domains to lead the design and implementation of highly effective search solutions
• Previous experience with products such as OpenSearch, Elastic Search, SOLR, Lucene, Coveo, and LucidWorks Fusion.
• Experience augmenting ML data models for Learning to Rank (LTR).
• Search & Information Retrieval: Expertise in relevancy tuning, ranking algorithms, and query understanding.
• Distributed Systems: Proven experience building large-scale, highly available systems.
• Programming:
  
  • Proficiency in Java, Python, or Scala, including source control tools and practices for managing code and changes to it.
  • Proficiency in software debugging and problem-solving techniques.
  • Proficiency in AI code generation tools such as Claude Code, ChatGPT, or GitHub Copilot.
  • Familiarity with DevOps tools and techniques for cloud deployment.
  • Producing and consuming APIs
• Data Technologies: Familiarity with event streaming and cloud platforms.
• Machine Learning: Practical experience applying ML to improve search relevance.

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.
This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of "essential job functions" as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Summary Pay Range:
$144,960.00 - $235,440.00
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
Relocation is available for this position.
Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.
Posting Dates:
December 4, 2025 - December 12, 2025
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.