Principal Technical Product Manager; Machine Deployment

Job Description

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you become part of a global team that cares not only about the work we do but also about each other. We are makers, problem‑solvers, and future world builders creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We make progress and innovation happen with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we build a better world for everyone.

Technology, Digital and Data

As the Principal Technical Product Manager for Machine Deployment
, you will define and execute the strategy, roadmap, and operational execution needed to build, validate, deploy, and deliver machines to proving grounds and customer sites. The role owns the end‑to‑end deployment lifecycle, including master‑schedule management, procurement coordination, machine‑assembly readiness, acceptance testing, logistics, shipment planning, site deployment, and operational readiness. You partner closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Program Management, Test & Validation, Operations, and Customers to ensure machines are delivered safely, on schedule, and ready to achieve program objectives.

• Own the Machine Deployment Backlog and prioritize work based on business value, program priorities, deployment readiness, and customer commitments.
• Serve as the key decision‑maker for deployment sequencing, machine build priorities, testing readiness, shipment planning, and site delivery activities.
• Define acceptance criteria for machine readiness, deployment milestones, testing objectives, and customer delivery requirements.
• Maintain the integrated master schedule for procurement, assembly, validation, shipment, proving‑ground deployment, and customer site delivery.
• Coordinate procurement, material availability, supplier readiness, and assembly activities to meet program schedules.
• Partner with engineering and test teams to plan and execute machine acceptance testing, validation activities, and deployment readiness reviews.
• Oversee machine shipment logistics, transportation planning, site preparation activities, and deployment execution.
• Make decisions on deployment schedules, testing readiness, shipment timing, and delivery content.
• Communicate schedules, readiness status, milestones, risks, and delivery updates to stakeholders and customers.
• Perform additional job duties as assigned.

• Business Analysis:
  Ability to analyze operational and deployment needs and recommend value‑driven solutions.
• Decision Making and Critical Thinking:
  Skilled in evaluating schedules, resources, logistics, and operational constraints to make informed decisions.
• Effective Communications:
  Proficiency in transmitting and interpreting ideas, schedules, risks, and operational needs.
• Program and Deployment Management:
  Experience managing complex deployment programs, integrated master scheduling, risk management, and execution.
• Supply Chain and Manufacturing Operations:
  Knowledge of procurement, supplier management, material planning, and manufacturing operations.
• Machine Validation and Acceptance Testing:
  Expertise in testing methodologies, readiness reviews, acceptance criteria, and commissioning processes.
• Product Development and Engineering Processes:
  Understanding of product life cycles, engineering change management, system integration, and cross‑functional collaboration.

• Lead machine deployment programs from strategic planning through build execution, testing, shipment, and site delivery.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in Product Management, Program Management, Deployment Management, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or related technical leadership roles.
• Proven ability to manage integrated master schedules across procurement, assembly, validation, logistics, and deployment activities.
• Experience coordinating machine builds, supplier readiness, manufacturing operations, and acceptance testing for complex products or systems.
• Experience leading proving‑ground deployments, customer site deliveries, commissioning activities, and operational readiness reviews.
• Experience partnering with Engineering, Supply…