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Senior Software Engineer

Caterpillar · East Peoria, IL · $112,710–$183,140 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 28, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you worked through a large transformation on an Agile team. What made it hard?

What they are checking: Whether they can stay productive and steady through long programs with shifting requirements.

Tell me about a code review where you pushed back on something. How did it go?

What they are checking: Whether they give useful feedback respectfully and raise team standards as a senior engineer.

How would you help a newer engineer ramp up on a large, unfamiliar codebase?

What they are checking: Whether they invest in others and share knowledge instead of keeping it to themselves.

Tell me about a production issue you debugged that was hard to reproduce.

What they are checking: Whether they troubleshoot methodically using logs and data rather than guessing.

What would you do

A product owner wants a feature fast, but you see it creating technical debt. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can explain tradeoffs clearly and negotiate a path that serves both speed and quality.

About the work

You'd help build a cloud-based Global Warranty Management solution replacing legacy systems. How would you approach migrating data and logic from an old system you didn't write?

What they are checking: Whether they plan for hidden business rules and data quality issues in legacy migrations.

Walk me through how you'd design an API that dealers use to submit warranty claims.

What they are checking: Whether they think about validation, idempotency, versioning and partner usability in a real integration.

How do you make sure a cloud service stays reliable when dealers around the world depend on it?

What they are checking: Whether they think about monitoring, failover and graceful failure, not only features.

The business wants warranty data to drive product quality insights. How would you design the system so that data is usable for analytics?

What they are checking: Whether they design data models with downstream reporting and quality analysis in mind.

How do you test a system that has a lot of complex business rules, like warranty eligibility?

What they are checking: Whether they use thoughtful automated testing so rule changes do not break existing behavior.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Caterpillar.

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. This position helps Caterpillar solve its customers’ toughest challenges while building a better and more sustainable world. The Lead Architect will deliver strategic technology initiatives within the Commercial Process Division (CPD), part of the Power and Energy Group. CPD focuses on the development and delivery of services, solutions, and processes that support Caterpillar’s commitment to customers, including the global Dealer Network. The incumbent collaborates with business partners and enterprise teams to create business-relevant IT and business strategies for CPD. What You Will Do: Architecture & Solution Delivery • Lead end‑to‑end architecture, design, and delivery of scalable, secure, full‑stack solutions using Agile methodologies. • Define and evolve application architecture across frontend, backend, integration, and data layers, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards and business goals. • Partner with product owners and stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions and architectural designs. Technical Leadership • Provide hands‑on technical leadership, including designing, coding, and reviewing critical components and shared frameworks. • Establish and enforce coding standards, architectural patterns, and best practices for performance, scalability, reliability, and security. • Serve as a technical escalation point, enabling high‑performing, product‑focused teams. DevOps, Automation & Quality • Lead DevOps and CI/CD strategy, ensuring high‑quality, frequent, and reliable releases through automation. • Drive an automation‑first and AI‑enabled mindset, embedding intelligent automation across development, testing, and operational workflows. • Oversee automated testing and quality engineering practices across the full SDLC. Mentorship & Collaboration • Mentor engineers and guide teams through complex architectural and technical decisions. • Collaborate closely with business leaders, product teams, and enterprise IT partners. What You Have: Core Qualifications • Strong Agile mindset, with experience working in or leading product‑centric, cross‑functional teams. • Proven experience designing and delivering solutions within the Azure ecosystem, including Azure DevOps. • Deep expertise in .NET‑based full‑stack architecture, with the ability to evaluate and select appropriate technologies. Technical Expertise • Experience across modern engineering languages and platforms, including: • C#, ASP.NET, Java, JavaScript, Python, SQL • Strong understanding of secure‑by‑design (Cyber Safe) development principles and application security best practices. • Hands‑on experience with DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure automation, and automated testing frameworks. Leadership & Communication • Excellent communication and leadership skills. • Ability to influence both technical and non‑technical stakeholders. Skill Descriptors Decision Making & Critical Thinking • Analyzes situations and reaches productive decisions using informed judgment. • Identifies, organizes, and documents relevant data, stakeholders, and processes. • Recognizes, clarifies, and prioritizes concerns while assessing risks, benefits, and alternatives. Effective Communication • Communicates clearly and appropriately for the audience. • Delivers constructive feedback and incorporates feedback from others. • Produces presentations and reports needed for effective delivery. • Avoids unnecessary technical jargon and recognizes non‑verbal cues. Software Development • Produces software aligned with product requirements. • Conducts walkthroughs and monitors quality of development activities. • Evaluates advantages and drawbacks of development languages and tools. • Estimates and monitors development costs and consults on tool selection and usage. Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) • Applies structured lifecycle methodologies for delivering software products. • Understands phases, dependencies, deliverables, and decision points. • Interprets product development plans and functional documentation. Software Integration Engineering • Designs and implements interfaces and integration patterns. • Understands ETL tools and data exchange techniques. • Participates in developing technology interfaces and bridges with customer and partner systems. Software Product Design & Architecture • Leads architecture and design of major or multiple products. • Evaluates architectural alternatives and design tradeoffs. • Facilitates design reviews and walkthroughs. • Estimates cost and impact of proposed architectural designs. Software Product Technical Knowledge • Defines technical requirements for development and deployment. • Participates in technical acceptance testing and environment configuration. • Monitors defects, bugs, and implementation issues. Software Product Testing • Designs and participates in testing strategies including functional, volume, load, and performance testing. • Documents test activities, results, and non‑conformance issues. • Ensures adherence to functional requirements and design specifications. Additional Info : • The required location for this role is East Peoria-IL, Irving-TX 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: $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. Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. Posting Dates: September 28, 2026 - October 6, 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 .

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