Engineering Manager – xIL Product Management

Location: Mossville, Illinois

Career Area

Engineering

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The Engineering Manager – xIL Product Management will lead the strategy, product roadmap, adoption, and execution of Caterpillar’s X-in-the-Loop (xIL) engineering ecosystem within the Intelligent Machine Systems organization.

The xIL ecosystem provides scalable capabilities across Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), and related virtual and physical validation environments, enabling Caterpillar engineering teams to develop, integrate, test, and validate intelligent machine software earlier and with greater automation.

This leader will treat xIL capabilities as engineering products, with clear customers, roadmaps, service levels, adoption targets, and measurable outcomes. The role will partner across software, controls, systems engineering, validation, DevOps/software factory, architecture, infrastructure, and product groups to build a cohesive xIL strategy and accelerate the transition from hardware-dependent validation toward a virtual-first, continuous development, integration and validation model.

The position combines people leadership, technical product management, engineering transformation, and cross-functional execution.

What You Will Do

Own the vision, strategy, and multi-year roadmap for the IMS xIL ecosystem, including SIL, HIL, vECUs, simulation, and continuous validation capabilities.

Establish and manage xIL capabilities as managed engineering products with defined customers, backlogs, releases, service expectations, adoption targets, and lifecycle plans.

Drive a virtual-first, shift-left engineering strategy, enabling earlier software integration, verification, and validation while reducing dependency on physical hardware and test assets.

Lead cross-functional collaboration across systems and software architecture, frameworks, software, plant modeling, DevOps, vECUs, and testing teams to deliver integrated, scalable xIL tools and platforms across the engineering lifecycle.

Translate customer and program needs into prioritized product capabilities, technical roadmaps, investment decisions, and build/buy/partner strategies.

Champion xIL adoption, standardization, and reuse across IMS, improving reuse of models, simulations, test assets, automation, environments, and engineering workflows.

Define, establish, and track KPIs and performance metrics to measure xIL adoption, engineering effectiveness, platform performance, quality, and business impact, using insights to drive continuous improvement.

Build and lead a high-performing xIL product and engineering organization, partnering across Software Factory, DevOps, architecture, controls, systems, validation, suppliers, and technology partners to deliver scalable enterprise capabilities.

Engineering Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of delivery leads/product owners and technical engineering professionals supporting xIL products.
• Lead the performance management of team members, including setting clear goals and expectations, providing ongoing feedback and coaching, evaluating performance, recognizing contributions, and addressing performance gaps.
• Build organizational capability through hiring, talent development, succession planning, and technical skill development.
• Create a culture of customer focus, engineering excellence, experimentation, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Enable teams to make data-driven product and engineering decisions.

What You Will Have

Planning: Tactical, Strategic: Knowledge of effective planning techniques and ability to contribute to operational (short term), tactical (1-2 years) and strategic (3-5 years) planning in support of the overall business plan.

Level Extensive Experience

• Develops, refines, and communicates tactical plans for own responsibilities.
• Provides the right level of detail as input for strategic plan development.
• Demonstrates the value and necessity of linking tactical plans to overall strategic plan.
• Ensures attention to the detail and dependencies of existing departmental-level plans.
• Plans for allocation of resources in line with unit goals, technical and business objectives.
• Ensures the planning process is integrated with the overall business plan.

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

Level Extensive Experience

• Differentiates assumptions, perspectives, and historical frameworks.
• Evaluates past decisions for insights to improve decision-making process.
• Assesses and validates decision options and points and predicts their potential impact.
• Advises others in analyzing and synthesizing relevant data and assessing alternatives.
• Uses effective decision-making approaches such as consultative, command, or consensus.
• Ensures that assumptions and received wisdom are objectively analyzed in decisions.

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.

Communicating for Impact: Knowledge of the concepts, tools and techniques for effective listening and communicating; ability to apply these theories to receive, transmit and accurately interpret information and ideas to influence others in various situations.

Level Working Knowledge

• Analyzes the interests or requirements of the audience; shares only relevant information in a direct and efficient manner.
• Adapts standard communication approaches when conducting dialogue with different audiences or conveying messages.
• Explains others' view points and asks questions to ensure mutual understanding.
• Recognizes and assesses cues or unstated intentions behind verbal and nonverbal communication.
• Provides persuasive messages using well-reasoned arguments to address audience concerns or reactions.

Customer/Market Focus: Understanding of the importance of remaining aware of shifting market priorities and ability to respond to internal and external customer needs in a manner that consistently adds value.

Level Extensive Experience

• Implements improvements to methods for maintaining customer responsiveness.
• Recommends new products and services based on changing customer needs and success criteria.
• Responds proactively to market and competitive shifts so as to maintain advantage.
• Delivers superior customer value consistently and within targets.
• Negotiates successful outcomes on behalf of difficult or dissatisfied customers.
• Coaches others to improve focus on the customer.

Managing People: Knowledge of processes involved in managing people; ability to lead successful teams, and diligently address issues related to performance and conflicts at the workplace.

Level Extensive Experience

• Anticipates and manages difficult interpersonal situations and conflicts; resolves them to mutual satisfaction.
• Consults within the team; seeks inputs from subordinates and considers all views while making decisions.
• Implements coaching and mentoring programs to ensure the holistic development of employees.
• Monitors employee morale and satisfaction; recognizes employee contributions and achievements.
• Regularly reviews employee performance and provides constructive feedback.
• Works collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds; understands their needs and perspectives.

Collaborating Globally: Knowledge of effective collaboration techniques and ability to build networks with people from different countries and cultures, think and work with them to bring positive impact and flourishing business results.

Level Extensive Experience

• Evaluates different viewpoints and reconciles conflicting interests to achieve a collective understanding and a group mission.
• Provides optimum solutions for complex problems by using collective intelligence of colleagues' networks.
• Trains others on the new technologies or techniques used to facilitate group interactions and improve collaboration.
• Uses internal and external network of leaderships or experts to help achieve organizational and client goals.
• Facilitates group's thinking and brainstorming activities to collectively create and share ideas.
• Oversees a team collaboration to produce positive business results.

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.

Basic Qualifications

Engineering & Technical Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Progressive experience in software, embedded systems, controls, simulation, systems integration, test/validation, or engineering platforms.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing engineering teams, technical products, or complex cross-functional engineering initiatives.
• Experience with one or more xIL domains such as SIL, HIL, simulation, digital twins, embedded software integration, controls validation, or automated testing.
• Understanding of modern software engineering practices including CI/CD, DevOps, automated testing, version control, configuration management, and software quality.
• Experience translating engineering/customer needs into technical roadmaps, prioritized backlogs, and executable product plans.

Top Candidates Will Have

• Advanced degree in an engineering or technical discipline.
• Experience developing or deploying virtual ECUs and virtualized embedded software environments, including different vECU fidelity levels.
• Knowledge of automotive, off-highway, robotics, autonomy, or embedded-control development workflows.
• Experience with plant modeling, simulation, digital twins, FMI/FMU, co-simulation, model-based development, or distributed simulation.
• Experience integrating SIL/HIL environments into enterprise CI/CD pipelines.
• Familiarity with embedded software architectures, ECU software stacks, communication networks, and hardware abstraction concepts.
• Experience managing commercial engineering tools and strategic supplier relationships.
• Understanding of cloud and on-premises compute infrastructure supporting scalable simulation and testing.
• Experience defining platform/product KPIs, DORA-style engineering flow metrics, quality metrics, and adoption measures.
• Demonstrated success moving engineering organizations toward shift-left, virtual-first, and continuous validation practices.

Additional Information

• Position is on-site, 5 days per week in Mossville, IL
• Relocation assistance may be available in accordance with Caterpillar policies.
• Sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Travel is 20%

#LI

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.
• Relocation is available for this position.
• Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates

• October 29, 2026 - November 9, 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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