Senior Principal Architect, Applied AI Enterprise
Chicago, IL - USA
Job Summary
Career Area:
Technology Digital and DataJob Description:
Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.
When you join Caterpillar yourejoining 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 dontjust 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:
Join the AI Acceleration team and help shape how Caterpillar builds and deploys AI-powered solutions across the enterprise. As a Senior AI Architect/Engineer youll serve as a technical leader and trusted advisor on the AI solution design - with a focus on agentic systems that can reason plan and take action. Youll partner with IT business functions and product teams to ensure were building AI solutions that are architecturally sound scalable and aligned with where the industry is heading. This is a high-visibility role with direct impact on Caterpillars AI strategy and the opportunity to get hands-on with emerging technologies
What You Will Do:
- Developing detailed architecture deliverables to solve business problems through agentic AI systems and patterns.
- Designing an AI applications technical infrastructure including orchestration layers tool integrations data retrieval patterns and testing approaches.
- Leading the evaluation and deployment of emerging AI technologies and frameworks to enhance Caterpillars agentic capabilities.
- Participating in translating business requirements into AI solution designs and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver results.
What You Will Have:
- Effective Communications: Expert 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.
- AI/ML Architecture: Deep understanding of modern AI/ML architectures including transformer models retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) agent frameworks and model orchestration patterns
- Analytical Thinking: Expert knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.
- Cloud AI Platforms: Hands-on experience with major cloud AI platforms (Azure OpenAI Service AWS Bedrock Google Vertex AI) and ability to architect multi-cloud or hybrid solutions
- Requirements Analysis: Expert knowledge of tools methods and techniques of requirement analysis; ability to elicit analyze and record required business functionality and non-functionality requirements to ensure the success of a system or software development project.
- Data Architecture: Expert knowledge of processes techniques and factors that affect data architecture; ability to design blueprints on how to integrate data resources for business processes and functional support.
- Target Architecture: Expert knowledge of target architecture; ability to develop the IT blueprint and roadmap while aligning the architecture and processes with business strategies and objectives.
- MLOps: Strong knowledge of MLOps practices including model versioning deployment pipelines monitoring and governance frameworks
Considerations for Top Candidates:
- Deep experience designing and building agentic AI systems including multi-agent architectures tool use and orchestration patterns
- Experience designing and implementing production AI agent systems using frameworks like LangChain LangGraph Semantic Kernel or similar orchestration tools
- Strong understanding of LLM capabilities limitations and deployment patterns (prompt engineering RAG function calling context engineering)
- Experience evaluating and integrating AI/ML infrastructure components (vector databases embedding models orchestration layers observability tools)
- Broad software engineering background including API design authentication/authorization patterns and enterprise integration
- Ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders and influence architecture decisions across teams.
- Track record of staying current with rapidly evolving AI landscape and brining practical recommendations to the table
- Experience with MLOps/LLMOps practices model monitoring or production AI systems as scale ml
Additional Information:
This position will have the option to be based out of our Chicago IL; Mossville IL; Denver CO or Irving TX offices.
#LI
#BI (used to post on Built In Chicago)
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. Weve 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 worlds 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 weve been helping customers build a better more sustainable world and are committed 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:
$172630.00 - $258950.00Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors job level market locationjob-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 24 2026 - May 10 2026Any 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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Required Experience:
Staff IC
About Company
Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.