Principal IT Architect - Manufacturing and Quality

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.
The Principal IT Enterprise Architect for Manufacturing & Quality is a senior technology and enterprise leadership role responsible for shaping the strategic direction of global manufacturing and quality systems across the organization. This position serves as a key advisor to senior business and technology leaders, driving enterprise-wide digital manufacturing initiatives and long-term technology modernization strategies, enabling AI Driven operations and the next generation of manufacturing innovation.
This role provides influential leadership across manufacturing architecture, smart factory transformation, AI enablement, digital twin simulation, enterprise integration, Industrial IoT, advanced analytics, and quality systems while ensuring alignment with overall business objectives, operational excellence, scalability, and future manufacturing innovation.
The Principal Architect will influence enterprise technology decisions across global manufacturing operations and play a critical role in advancing connected, intelligent, and data-driven manufacturing capabilities.
What You Will Do:
Enterprise & Strategic Leadership

• Serve as the senior architecture leader for manufacturing and quality technology domains
• Partner with executive leadership, enterprise process owners, plant operations, supply chain, engineering, and digital teams to influence and align technology strategy with business priorities
• Drive enterprise-wide manufacturing technology vision and roadmap development
• Lead strategic decision-making for modernization and transformation initiatives across global manufacturing operations including supporting business case creation
• Influence organizational standards, governance models, and enterprise architecture direction

Global Manufacturing and Quality Transformation

• Lead architecture strategy for smart factory and Industry 4.0 initiatives
• Guide modernization of manufacturing systems, platforms, and integration strategies
• Enable scalable digital capabilities through Industrial IoT, automation, analytics, AI, Digital Twins and connected platforms
• Support enterprise adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies and predictive quality solutions
• Promote simplification, standardization, and interoperability across manufacturing technology ecosystems

Technology Architecture & Integration

• Define future-state architecture and capabilities for modern Manufacturing platforms, including AI first thinking, advanced analytics, MES, Industrial IoT, quality systems, and manufacturing data platforms
• Lead manufacturing and quality integration architecture and scalable platform strategies
• Ensure alignment between manufacturing systems, enterprise platforms, and business processes
• Drive adoption of modern architecture practices including composable and event-driven architecture, through appropriately hosted solutions (edge, cloud, hybrid)

Technical Leadership & Governance

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across architecture and engineering teams

• Establish enterprise reference architecture, standards and patterns for accelerated value
• Evaluate emerging technologies and provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across global business and technology organizations

What You Have:

• Extensive experience as an Enterprise Architect
• Extensive experience in manufacturing systems architecture, or digital manufacturing leadership roles
• Strong Manufacturing and Quality process knowledge
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leadership, financial acumen and drive enterprise-wide strategic initiatives
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and organizational leadership skills
• Proven experience leading large-scale enterprise technology transformation initiatives
• Strong background supporting global manufacturing operations and plant technologies
• Expertise in MES, integration, Industrial IoT, manufacturing analytics, and enterprise integration architecture

Top Candidates Will Also Have:

• TOGAF or comparable enterprise architecture certification
• Experience leading smart factory or Industry 4.0 transformation programs
• Knowledge of digital twins, advanced analytics, AI-driven manufacturing operations, and predictive quality systems
• Experience within large global manufacturing organizations
• Experience with Product and Project led organizations
• Prior experience leading enterprise architecture teams or technical organizations
• Strong understanding of modern cloud, integration, and data platform strategies

Additional Info:

• The ideal location for this role is Irving-TX, East Peoria-IL
• This position may require 20% travel.

About Caterpillar -
For more than a century, Caterpillar has helped build a better, more sustainable world. With 2025 sales and revenues of $67.6 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is shaping the future as the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. Backed by one of the largest independent global dealer networks and financing services through Cat Financial, the company's primary business segments: Power & Energy, Construction Industries and Resource Industries are solving customers' toughest challenges through commercial excellence and advanced technology, driven by a highly skilled, dedicated global team. Learn more at www.caterpillar.com.
Summary Pay Range:
$159,120.00 - $238,680.00
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.
Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Posting Dates:
June 15, 2026 - June 28, 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.