Autonomy Engineering Specialist
Caterpillar · Irving, TX
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $128k–$209k
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at Caterpillar (industrial) in Irving, TX. This person will design, develop, integrate, and test embedded software for safety-critical machine applications using C++ and Linux, with a strong focus on camera and radar-based perception processing.
- Tools it names
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Robotics, Automation
- Base pay
- $128k–$209k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · relocation help
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Texas: typical posted base $79k–$132k. This one lists $128k–$209k.
Median of the low and high ends of 35 live postings that list pay, out of 159 manufacturing engineer openings in Texas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Texas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 158 other live manufacturing postings in Texas.
- Base pay
- About 60% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $79k–$132k, from 34 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Tooling 57%
- Root cause 50%
- Lean 39%
- New product launch 38%
- ✓ Automation 36%
- Six Sigma 29%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Caterpillar
We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Brian → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Caterpillar in Irving
2 other open roles at this site · 1 person we found in manufacturing roles at Caterpillar.
- Engineering Manager, ADAS Safety · Manufacturing · Manager
- Simulation Quality Automation Engineer · Quality
Full description from CaterpillarAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What You Will Do
- ◆Develop embedded software features using C++, Linux, and GitHub to support safety technology and autonomy applications.
- ◆Implement and optimize radar and camera processing pipelines to improve system performance and reliability.
- ◆Debug, triage, and resolve system issues across embedded software, sensor processing, and vehicle integration environments.
- ◆Define, document, and execute validation plans to ensure software functionality, quality, and readiness for deployment.
- ◆Collaborate with global systems, machine, software, and validation teams to align technical solutions with product requirements.
- ◆Improve system efficiency, stability, and scalability through continuous software refinement and performance optimization.
requirements
into the software product design.
- ✓Demonstrates experience with the architecture and design of major or multiple products.
- ✓Applies strong C/C++ programming and software design skills to develop robust embedded software solutions.
- ✓Describes major software architecture alternatives and considerations.
- ✓Applies system-level design and troubleshooting skills to evaluate trade-offs, resolve technical issues, and support product readiness.
- ✓Facilitates design reviews and walkthroughs.
- ✓Analyzes benefits and drawbacks of specific software designs and architecture.
- ✓Communicating Complex Concepts: Knowledge of effective presentation tools and techniques to ensure clear understanding; ability to use summarization and simplification techniques to explain complex technical concepts in simple, clear language appropriate to the audience.
- ✓Managing Multiple Priorities: Knowledge of effective self-management practices; ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.
- ✓Strategic Thinking: Knowledge of the importance of "big picture" thinking and planning; ability to apply organizational acumen and competitiveness to identify and maintain focus on key success factors for the organization.
- ✓Technical Excellence: Knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges .
- ✓Demonstrates experience with radar and camera data processing in embedded or machine application environments.
- ✓Applies embedded systems knowledge, including datalinks such as CAN and Ethernet, to support system integration and communication.
- ✓Uses debugging tools, compilers, Git, and related development practices to identify, triage, and resolve software issues.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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 Description
The Safety Technology team for Caterpillar Technology manages the collision mitigation systems for our Automation and Autonomy products. As an Autonomy Engineering Specialist, this person will design, develop, integrate, and test embedded software for safety-critical machine applications using C++ and Linux, with a strong focus on camera and radar-based perception processing.
What You Have
- •Software Product Design/Architecture : Knowledge of software product design; ability to convert market
Consideration for Top Candidates
- •Proven experience in the development including but not limited to design, development and architecture of complex software solutions in C++.
- •Leadership experience in effective communication to facilitate design reviews and decision making.
- •Prior experience with design reviews, software programming and focus on quality in product development
- •Development experience on Radars or Camera systems
- •Experience with NVIDIA toolsets, including CUDA, TensorRT, and the Drive or Jetson ecosystem.
- •Experience developing or supporting GStreamer and multimedia processing pipelines.
- •Experience supporting Robotics or Autonomous Vehicles preferred
- •Hands-on experience with sensors, robotics, autonomy, or autonomous vehicle systems.
- •Experience with software test frameworks such as C Test or GTest.
- •Functional Safety / Safety of the Intended Functionality (SOTIF) experience
Additional Information
- •This position requires the candidate to work full-time at the Irving, TX office.
- •Relocation assistance is available for this position
- •Visa sponsorship is available with this position.
- •This position will require up to 10% travel
- •#LI
Summary Pay Range
$128,470.00 - $208,770.00
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
Posting Dates
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.