Principal AI Data Architect

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.

Join the Global Finance AI & Advanced Analytics organization and help shape how Caterpillar builds and deploys AI-powered solutions across Global Finance. As a Principal AI Architect/Builder, you'll serve as a technical leader and trusted advisor on multiple AI solution design use cases - with a focus on agentic systems that can reason, plan and take action. You'll partner with IT, business functions and product teams to ensure we're building AI solutions that are architecturally sound, scalable and aligned with where Global Finance is heading.   This role has a direct impact on Caterpillar's Finance AI strategy and the opportunity to drive impactful results.

What You Will Do:

• Develop detailed architecture deliverables to solve business problems through agentic AI systems and patterns.  Ultimately, delivering full-stack prototypes and production solutions
• You will act as a technical expert collaborating with a team of dedicated data scientists, IT professionals, software engineers, accountants, and ERP knowledge owners to deliver AI and Advanced Analytics solutions in support of Caterpillar’s enterprise-scale accounting data system.
• Design AI application's technical infrastructure, including orchestration layers, tool integrations, data retrieval patterns, and testing approaches.
• Evaluate and deploy of emerging AI technologies and frameworks to enhance Global Finance agentic capabilities.
• Translate business requirements into AI solution designs and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver results.

What You Will Have:

• Effective Communications: Strong effective communication and the ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
• AI-Driven Entity Resolution: Develop and implement sophisticated strategies for Entity Resolution (ER) by utilizing Large Language Models (LLMs) and Graph Databases (e.g., Neo4J, AWS Neptune, CosmosDB) to accurately map, reconcile, and standardize accounting data across diverse sources.
• Advanced RAG Implementation: Architect and deploy production-grade Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines for complex data interpretation and standardization. This includes managing the underlying Vector Databases and optimizing prompt/context engineering for high accuracy.
• Performance Optimization: Understand performance SLAs. Leverage specialized databases such as OLAP solutions (e.g., DuckDB, ClickHouse) for rapid analytics and column stores/caching (e.g., Redis) for low-latency access.
• Cloud Infrastructure and Deployment: Engage with IT experts on cloud deployment strategy (AWS/Azure), containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes) to ensure robust, scalable, and observable deployments.
• 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.
• Experience with Multiple AI Technology Deployment Solutions: Azure/AWS Cloud-Based AI Solutions, Snowflake Cortex, M365 Copilot Studio, On-Prem AI Experience (e.g. Ollama or similar…)

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

• Modern Data Stack and Databases:

• Entity Resolution: Proven track record of solving complex entity resolution challenges at scale

• Graph Databases: Hands-on experience with Neo4J, AWS Neptune, or CosmosDB, specifically applied to ER or MDM
• Data Warehousing: Deep expertise in Snowflake architecture and optimization.
• Fast Analytics: Experience utilizing OLAP databases (e.g., DuckDB) and in-memory/column stores (e.g., Redis) for performance optimization

Additional Information:

• This position will have the option to be based out of our Global Headquarters in Irving, TX or Peoria, IL
• Domestic relocation available for those who qualify
• Sponsorship is NOT available

Summary Pay Range:

$159,120.00 - $258,570.00

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

Posting Dates:

March 19, 2026 - March 25, 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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