Principal Spatial Intelligence Architect

Caterpillar

Confirmed live 2 days ago High trust

Quick summary

Work type
On-site
Location
San Francisco, CAIrving, TX
Salary
$175,030–$284,430 / yr
Posted
7 days ago
Freshness
Confirmed live 2 days ago
Closes
Nov 26, 2026

Market check

Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $223k
This role $230k
$150k $299k
below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays more than 60% of similar roles. Most pay $191,400–$254,225 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $230k versus about $223k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. is the world''s largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. Industry: Heavy Equipment & Manufacturing

Caterpillar currently has 131 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $128,470–$192,710 across 125 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · Principal Spatial Intelligence Architect

The Principal Spatial Intelligence Architect joins the Robotics team to define the spatial-reasoning architecture for autonomous machines. This role focuses on turning upstream environment inputs into precise motion and implement planning, enabling machines to reason about space, terrain, reach, and their own footprint. You will develop detailed architecture deliverables, design technical infrastructures including specific databases and programming languages, and lead the evaluation of new technologies to enhance digital capabilities. Key requirements include expertise in spatial reasoning, real-time motion planning, and behavior generation for physical machines. You will utilize skills in application design, platform architecture, and requirements analysis to solve complex problems in construction autonomy. The work involves creating intelligent systems that allow machines to perceive environments and make informed decisions to execute work on dynamic jobsites.

What you'll do

  • Define the spatial-reasoning architecture for autonomous machines to reason about space, terrain, and reach.
  • Design motion and implement planning to coordinate the movement of work tools like buckets or blades.
  • Develop detailed architecture deliverables and technical blueprints to solve complex business problems.
  • Design application technical infrastructure including specific databases, programming languages, and testing approaches.
  • Lead the evaluation and deployment of new technologies to enhance existing digital technical capabilities.
  • Establish standards and interfaces for robotics components consumed from upstream engineering teams.
  • Define architectural patterns for integrating planning, controls, and behaviors to deliver safe autonomous actions.
  • Create and manage architectural roadmaps that align technology decisions with business strategies.

What we're looking for

  • This position requires the candidate to work full-time at the Irving, TX office.
  • Knowledge of application design and architecture principles to convert business requirements into technical designs.
  • Knowledge of platform architecture to design processing mechanisms, roadmaps, and supportive interfaces.
  • Knowledge of requirement analysis tools and methods to elicit and record business functionality.
  • Knowledge of target architecture to develop IT blueprints aligned with business strategies.
  • Experience architecting spatial reasoning and real-time motion planning for physical machines or autonomous vehicles (preferred).
  • Experience planning coordinated motion of an actuated implement or manipulator (preferred).
  • Familiarity with spatially grounded VLA, embodied AI, and behavior generation (preferred).

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