Senior Autonomy Development Engineer
Architecture & Engineering (Physical)Posted 17 Jul 2026
Advertised as “Senior Autonomy Development Engineer - SOTIF”
Posted 17 Jul 2026
Advertised as “Senior Autonomy Development Engineer - SOTIF”
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
| Base salary | US$112,500 – US$183,000 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyComputer Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (or related)
Study levelBachelor's or higher
Career Area:
Engineering
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.
The Senior SOTIF Engineer will be a key member of the AI Product Assurance team, responsible for leading and executing activities related to Safety of the Intended Functionality (SOTIF) for complex, AI-enabled and autonomous systems. This role focuses on ensuring that risks arising from functional insufficiencies, performance limitations, and reasonably foreseeable misuse are systematically identified, mitigated, and monitored across the product lifecycle.
As a senior technical contributor, you will work across engineering, product, and safety teams to define SOTIF strategies, develop safety arguments, and generate credible evidence supporting product release and safe operation. The role requires deep technical expertise in complex systems, autonomy, AI/ML, and international safety standards, combined with the ability to translate theory into scalable, industrial practice.
What You Will Do:
Lead the definition and execution of SOTIF activities for AI-enabled, autonomous, and safety-related control systems across development and operation phases.
Develop and maintain the SOTIF lifecycle aligned with ISO 6135 (EMM equivalent of ISO 21448) and integrated with functional safety, systems engineering, and AI safety activities.
Identify hazards, functional insufficiencies, triggering conditions, and reasonably foreseeable misuse at vehicle, system, and element levels.
Define Operational Design Domains (ODDs), behaviors, scenarios, and boundary conditions, including insufficiencies, limitations, and degradations.
Drive scenario-based safety analysis, including known and unknown scenario discovery, coverage assessment, and risk-based prioritization.
Specify and evaluate SOTIF mitigation measures, including functional modifications, restrictions, monitoring strategies, and handover mechanisms.
Define verification and validation strategies combining simulation, structured testing, data-driven analysis, and in-field monitoring.
Develop quantitative and qualitative safety metrics, including scenario coverage, criticality, discovery rates, and residual risk arguments.
Contribute to the creation of safety cases, assurance arguments, and technical construction files supporting product release decisions.
Support in-service monitoring, incident analysis, and continuous assurance through data collection, observers, and runtime safety mechanisms.
Collaborate with AI, autonomy, and platform teams to ensure tool credibility, data quality, and traceability of evidence across the lifecycle.
Participate in internal and external standardization efforts and ensure alignment with evolving safety and AI standards.
Education requirement:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field from an accredited institution.
What Skills You Will Have:
Problem Solving:
Software Development Life Cycle:
Programming:
Consideration for Top Candidates:
Additional Information:
Summary Pay Range:
$112,710.00 - $183,140.00
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
This position requires working onsite five days a week.
Relocation is available for this position.
Visa sponsorship is available for eligible applicants.
Posting Dates:
July 17, 2026 - July 26, 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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