Embedded Software Team Lead - Positioning and Controls

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 CTCT division (a joint venture between Trimble and Caterpillar) develops positioning, control, and automation products for earthmoving and paving machines in the construction and mining industries, using technologies such as GNSS, optical total stations, lasers and sonics. The products are used in a range of applications where the operator of the machine benefits from having accurate horizontal and vertical guidance and control.

The Software Team Lead provides supervision and technical direction to a staff of salaried personnel, including control systems engineers, software engineers, and technical specialist(s) engaged in design, development or research activities related to one or more technology, component, product, or process which accomplish product maintenance and new product introduction objectives.

What You Will Do:

•             Coach and facilitate the development of the work group to develop collaborative relationships among themselves, with other cross functional groups, and internal customers to ensure goals are achieved.

•             Utilization of project management skills and organizational skills are critical.

•             Establish strategy at the team level to solve problems for one or more technology, component, product, or processes.

•             Project scope will focus on Positioning, Controls and Commissioning Algorithm development, and will require incumbent to broaden business understanding.

•             Draws upon foundational product development skills such as conceptual design, development of product and/or process, data analysis & extraction, failure resolution & prevention, and requirements management.

•             Work with immediate work group or project team, division/business unit, suppliers, internal and external customers, and the market, typically impacting one or more product(s), process(es), or factory(ies).

•             Primarily accountable for meeting the s/w development lifecycle time, cost and software quality targets.

Basic Qualifications:

•             Bachelor’s degree in an accredited Engineering, Computer Science, or Materials Science curriculum plus extensive engineering experience or a Master’s degree in an Engineering, Computer Science, or materials Science curriculum plus solid engineering experience

What You Will Have:

Products and Services: Knowledge of major products and services and product and service groups; ability to apply knowledge of product and service appropriately to diverse situations.

Level Extensive Experience:

•             Oversees development activities for multiple products or product lines.

•             Advises colleagues on implementation and operational considerations.

•             Coaches others on key factors that differentiate offerings from that of competition.

•             Develops procedures for product planning, development, and delivery cycles.

•             Promotes understanding of multiple product and service groups and their interdependencies.

Technical Excellence: Knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.

Level Extensive Experience:

•             Advises others on the assessment and provision of all technical solutions.

•             Engages appropriate subject matter resources to effectively resolve technical issues.

•             Mentors others to enhance their technical competence and its application to achieve more effective technical solutions.

•             Coaches others in promoting, defining, analyzing, and providing superior technical solutions to business problems.

•             Provides effective solutions to moderate technical challenges through strong technical competence, effectively examining implications of events and issues.

•             Assumes accountability for personal technical performance and holds others responsible for theirs.

Influencing Through Expertise: Knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to use these to deepen own expertise and impact or challenge decisions within and outside own organization.

Level Extensive Experience:

•             Communicates complex ideas and concepts in a clear and concise manner so that others can understand.

•             Exhibits depth and breadth of knowledge, skill, and experience in the relevant field.

•             Provides relevant, timely and objective subject matter/process expertise and key insight regarding multiple client business areas and affiliated fields.

•             Provides others with information, opportunities, or resources to develop their skills in the area of expertise.

•             Discards examples of persuasive arguments lacking evidentiary support or impact.

•             Coaches others to enhance their proficiency regarding the tenets, practices, and examples of the 'trusted advisor' credential.

Project Management: Knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.

Level Expert:

•             Champions organization's project management methodology, tools, and techniques.

•             Manages multiple high-risk, high-cost projects involving multiple stakeholders.

•             Coaches others in open communication among project stakeholders.

•             Monitors major projects for critical path and actual status versus planned.

•             Consults on project planning and management of high-risk, high-impact projects.

•             Monitors industry for fresh approaches and tools for project management.

Team Management: Knowledge of effective team building techniques; ability to form and manage effective teams.

Level Extensive Experience:

•             Brings projects to closure and ensures capture of what can be learned from the experience.

•             Leads the definition of team mission and objectives for a variety of teams.

•             Employs appropriate techniques for maintaining team enthusiasm, energy, and focus.

•             Ensures that team members are on board, unified, and moving in the same direction.

•             Communicates both within the team and to stakeholders.

•             Learns and utilizes special talents and work styles of team members.

Requirements Analysis: 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.

Level Extensive Experience:

•             Plays an active or leading role in recording and storing requirement documents in various forms.

•             Ensures the successful completion of all major activities, tasks and deliverables pertaining to the requirement analysis stage.

•             Supervises the advanced use of requirements analysis tools and services, including prototyping and use cases.

•             Produces detailed functional and information requirements models and documentation.

•             Trains others on requirements walkthroughs and quality reviews.

•             Utilizes automated diagramming tools to ensure traceability of requirements.

Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or product management environment.

Level Extensive Experience:

•             Evaluates business impact of failure and the criticality and timing of needed resolution.

•             Resolves difficult or high-impact equipment and systems problems.

•             Monitors machine performance and history; addresses excessive maintenance or repair needs.

•             Coaches others how to resolve integration or communications problems in multi-vendor environment.

•             Applies specific techniques for isolating a problem and defining resolution approach.

•             Uses advanced diagnostic techniques and tools for unusual or performance-related problems.

Product Design and Development: Knowledge of product features; ability to design, build, and develop a new product, technology, or service from concept through to production.

Level Extensive Experience:

•             Develops organizational standards and processes in order to maximize complex product services' efficiency and effectiveness.

•             Creates and introduces new techniques that expedite or simplify the development process.

•             Supervises the management of multiple and diverse types of products or services.

•             Develops proof-of-concept exercises to prove or disprove validity of proposed products.

•             Advises on the appropriate solutions to complex product design and development problems.

•             Designs working prototypes of a variety of proposed products or services.

Top Candidates Will Also Have:

•             Experience with NPI

•             Experience of Control and State Estimation Theory

•             Excellent human relations, interpersonal, communications, and presentation skills

•             Experience coaching and leading a team

Additional Information:

•             The location for this position is Mossville, IL and requires working onsite 5 days per week

•             Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.

•             This position may require up to 10% travel.

•             Visa sponsorship not available for this position.

#LI

 

Summary Pay Range:

$128,470.00 - $192,710.00

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:

November 3, 2026 - November 23, 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.

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.