STEM OPT Automation Jobs
Automation roles in controls engineering, robotics programming, and industrial systems integration qualify for STEM OPT's 24-month extension, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree must map to an eligible CIP code. This page lists Automation jobs at E-Verify-enrolled companies.
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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.
Help Build the Future of Caterpillar –
At Caterpillar, technology always has a purpose, which is to solve our customers’ toughest challenges. Through Cat Technology, we are solving problems by building the intelligence layer that connects machines, data, and people to make jobsites safer, more productive, and more sustainable. By combining deep domain expertise in physical systems with software, connectivity, autonomy, and AI, we deliver solutions that work in the real world—on real jobsites, at global scale.
You’ll build and deploy against one of the most unique data foundations—over 1.6 million connected assets generating real-world data daily. These data and platform capabilities are enabling the development of AI models, edge computing architectures, and software systems that scale across fleets, products, and industries. The result will be a new generation of machines that continuously learn, improve, and deliver performance at scale.
Be Part of What’s Next in Autonomous Construction Sites
Construction autonomy is one of the most complex challenges in applied AI, and at Caterpillar, advancements in physical AI, simulation, sensing, and edge computing are turning things that once felt impossible—intelligent machines operating in dynamic jobsites—into reality.
Our connected ecosystem brings together massive volumes of high-quality data to create a foundation where engineers like you can build and deploy against.
If this work motivates you, we invite you to join our team. In these roles, you’ll work at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds. You’ll help design and deliver intelligent systems that enable machines to perceive their environment, make informed decisions, and support safer, more productive operations.
Apply today to build the new era of construction autonomy at Caterpillar.
We are seeking a Lead AI Automation Engineer to provide technical leadership for a scrum team responsible for developing annotation automation solutions used to create training data for robotics, autonomy, computer vision, and Vision-Language-Action (VLA) systems.
This role combines software engineering, machine learning, and data engineering to build automated annotation and captioning capabilities for real-world heavy equipment and construction environments. You will help deploy and extend technologies such as NVIDIA Cosmos Curator and Cosmos Reason while also developing Caterpillar-specific AI models that enable automated labeling, automated captioning, and AI-driven quality assurance.
This is a hands-on technical leadership role focused on turning complex AI and data challenges into scalable production solutions.
- Lead the technical execution of a scrum team focused on annotation automation and AI-driven data production.
- Design, develop, and deploy automated labeling and captioning solutions for perception and VLA datasets.
- Train, fine-tune, and evaluate AI models to support auto-labeling, auto-captioning, and annotation quality automation.
- Build data pipelines and workflows that move datasets through automated labeling, human review, quality validation, and dataset publication.
- Implement and extend platforms such as NVIDIA Cosmos Curator, Cosmos Reason, and other emerging AI automation technologies.
- Develop solutions that integrate Caterpillar data systems with external annotation providers and human-in-the-loop workflows.
- Drive reliability, scalability, observability, and operational excellence across annotation automation services.
- Mentor engineers and provide day-to-day technical leadership for the team.
What Makes This Role Unique
Most AI automation solutions are not trained to understand heavy equipment, jobsites, sensor data, or machine operations. In this role, you'll help develop the AI capabilities needed to label and describe Caterpillar-specific data at scale. You'll work on challenges involving computer vision, multimodal AI, robotics, autonomy, and Vision-Language-Action systems while helping create the data foundation that powers the future of intelligent machines.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a related field.
- Experience leading technical delivery for software or AI engineering teams.
- Experience developing production-grade software solutions using Python and modern software engineering practices.
- Experience designing and implementing distributed systems, APIs, and data processing pipelines.
- Experience training, fine-tuning, or deploying machine learning models.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work across multiple technical disciplines.
- 3+ years of experience generating and managing camera and LiDAR sensor datasets for perception or machine learning applications, including data collection pipeline design and ground truth generation.
- 3+ years of experience in data annotation and quality assurance for autonomous systems or computer vision projects, with demonstrated ability to define annotation guidelines, identify labeling defects, and drive measurable improvements in dataset accuracy.
- Experience using annotation and dataset management tools such as Labelbox, Supervisely, RoboFlow or similar toolchains.
- Experience using machine learning frameworks and training tools such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, ONNX, Weights & Biases, MLflow or similar frameworks.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with computer vision, robotics, autonomy, Physical AI, or multimodal AI systems.
- Experience with AI-assisted annotation, auto-labeling, or machine learning data pipelines.
- Experience training or fine-tuning foundation models, vision models, or multimodal models.
- Experience with NVIDIA Cosmos Curator, Cosmos Reason, or similar AI automation platforms.
- Experience with Vision-Language-Action (VLA) datasets and workflows.
- Experience with sensor data such as cameras, LiDAR, radar, or autonomous machine datasets.
- Experience with cloud platforms, MLOps, and machine learning deployment pipelines.
- Experience building human-in-the-loop AI workflows and quality automation systems.
Additional Details:
- This position requires the candidate to work full-time at the Irving, TX office (Dallas).
- Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.
- Visa sponsorship is available with this position.
Why Caterpillar
You'll work on some of the most challenging applications of AI in the physical world, helping build systems that transform vast amounts of machine and sensor data into the intelligence that powers autonomous and AI-enabled equipment. If you're excited about applying AI to real-world machines operating in complex environments, we'd like to hear from you.
Summary Pay Range:
$128,470.00 - $208,770.00
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 available for eligible applicants.
Posting Dates:
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.
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.
Help Build the Future of Caterpillar –
At Caterpillar, technology always has a purpose, which is to solve our customers’ toughest challenges. Through Cat Technology, we are solving problems by building the intelligence layer that connects machines, data, and people to make jobsites safer, more productive, and more sustainable. By combining deep domain expertise in physical systems with software, connectivity, autonomy, and AI, we deliver solutions that work in the real world—on real jobsites, at global scale.
You’ll build and deploy against one of the most unique data foundations—over 1.6 million connected assets generating real-world data daily. These data and platform capabilities are enabling the development of AI models, edge computing architectures, and software systems that scale across fleets, products, and industries. The result will be a new generation of machines that continuously learn, improve, and deliver performance at scale.
Be Part of What’s Next in Autonomous Construction Sites
Construction autonomy is one of the most complex challenges in applied AI, and at Caterpillar, advancements in physical AI, simulation, sensing, and edge computing are turning things that once felt impossible—intelligent machines operating in dynamic jobsites—into reality.
Our connected ecosystem brings together massive volumes of high-quality data to create a foundation where engineers like you can build and deploy against.
If this work motivates you, we invite you to join our team. In these roles, you’ll work at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds. You’ll help design and deliver intelligent systems that enable machines to perceive their environment, make informed decisions, and support safer, more productive operations.
Apply today to build the new era of construction autonomy at Caterpillar.
We are seeking a Lead AI Automation Engineer to provide technical leadership for a scrum team responsible for developing annotation automation solutions used to create training data for robotics, autonomy, computer vision, and Vision-Language-Action (VLA) systems.
This role combines software engineering, machine learning, and data engineering to build automated annotation and captioning capabilities for real-world heavy equipment and construction environments. You will help deploy and extend technologies such as NVIDIA Cosmos Curator and Cosmos Reason while also developing Caterpillar-specific AI models that enable automated labeling, automated captioning, and AI-driven quality assurance.
This is a hands-on technical leadership role focused on turning complex AI and data challenges into scalable production solutions.
- Lead the technical execution of a scrum team focused on annotation automation and AI-driven data production.
- Design, develop, and deploy automated labeling and captioning solutions for perception and VLA datasets.
- Train, fine-tune, and evaluate AI models to support auto-labeling, auto-captioning, and annotation quality automation.
- Build data pipelines and workflows that move datasets through automated labeling, human review, quality validation, and dataset publication.
- Implement and extend platforms such as NVIDIA Cosmos Curator, Cosmos Reason, and other emerging AI automation technologies.
- Develop solutions that integrate Caterpillar data systems with external annotation providers and human-in-the-loop workflows.
- Drive reliability, scalability, observability, and operational excellence across annotation automation services.
- Mentor engineers and provide day-to-day technical leadership for the team.
What Makes This Role Unique
Most AI automation solutions are not trained to understand heavy equipment, jobsites, sensor data, or machine operations. In this role, you'll help develop the AI capabilities needed to label and describe Caterpillar-specific data at scale. You'll work on challenges involving computer vision, multimodal AI, robotics, autonomy, and Vision-Language-Action systems while helping create the data foundation that powers the future of intelligent machines.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a related field.
- Experience leading technical delivery for software or AI engineering teams.
- Experience developing production-grade software solutions using Python and modern software engineering practices.
- Experience designing and implementing distributed systems, APIs, and data processing pipelines.
- Experience training, fine-tuning, or deploying machine learning models.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work across multiple technical disciplines.
- 3+ years of experience generating and managing camera and LiDAR sensor datasets for perception or machine learning applications, including data collection pipeline design and ground truth generation.
- 3+ years of experience in data annotation and quality assurance for autonomous systems or computer vision projects, with demonstrated ability to define annotation guidelines, identify labeling defects, and drive measurable improvements in dataset accuracy.
- Experience using annotation and dataset management tools such as Labelbox, Supervisely, RoboFlow or similar toolchains.
- Experience using machine learning frameworks and training tools such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, ONNX, Weights & Biases, MLflow or similar frameworks.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with computer vision, robotics, autonomy, Physical AI, or multimodal AI systems.
- Experience with AI-assisted annotation, auto-labeling, or machine learning data pipelines.
- Experience training or fine-tuning foundation models, vision models, or multimodal models.
- Experience with NVIDIA Cosmos Curator, Cosmos Reason, or similar AI automation platforms.
- Experience with Vision-Language-Action (VLA) datasets and workflows.
- Experience with sensor data such as cameras, LiDAR, radar, or autonomous machine datasets.
- Experience with cloud platforms, MLOps, and machine learning deployment pipelines.
- Experience building human-in-the-loop AI workflows and quality automation systems.
Additional Details:
- This position requires the candidate to work full-time at the Irving, TX office (Dallas).
- Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.
- Visa sponsorship is available with this position.
Why Caterpillar
You'll work on some of the most challenging applications of AI in the physical world, helping build systems that transform vast amounts of machine and sensor data into the intelligence that powers autonomous and AI-enabled equipment. If you're excited about applying AI to real-world machines operating in complex environments, we'd like to hear from you.
Summary Pay Range:
$128,470.00 - $208,770.00
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 available for eligible applicants.
Posting Dates:
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.
See all 507+ STEM OPT Automation Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Automation Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Automation
Verify your CIP code matches automation
Check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List before applying. Electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science codes typically qualify for Automation roles, but industrial technology programs vary.
Confirm employers are E-Verify enrolled
Before submitting applications, verify each company's E-Verify enrollment through the E-Verify employer search portal. Automation teams at manufacturing and defense contractors are often enrolled, but smaller systems integrators sometimes aren't, which disqualifies them for your extension.
Build your I-983 training plan around automation competencies
Work with your DSO and hiring manager early to draft an I-983 that ties your daily tasks to specific learning objectives. For Automation roles, frame PLC programming, SCADA configuration, or robotics deployment as direct applications of your degree's technical curriculum.
Target industries with dense automation hiring
Automotive, semiconductor fabrication, food processing, and aerospace sectors run dedicated automation engineering teams and file Labor Condition Applications consistently. Use Migrate Mate to filter Automation job listings by employers with active STEM OPT hiring records so you skip the manual research.
Check prevailing wage tiers before negotiating
Look up your target job title and work location in the OFLC Wage Search before your offer stage. Automation engineers often span wage levels one through three depending on supervisory scope, and knowing your tier prevents you from accepting an offer that undercuts DOL standards.
File your OPT extension 90 days before expiration
USCIS requires your STEM OPT extension application to arrive no earlier than 90 days before your initial OPT ends and recommends filing with significant buffer given processing times. Your DSO must update your I-20 with a new end date and training plan before you file the I-765.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Automation jobs qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
Most Automation roles qualify if your underlying degree maps to an eligible CIP code on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Degrees in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, and systems engineering typically qualify. Your DSO confirms eligibility by matching your specific CIP code to the list, not by evaluating your job title alone.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my Automation employer?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify at the specific worksite where you'll be employed, not just at the corporate level. You can confirm enrollment through the E-Verify employer search before signing an offer. If your role involves a client site or contract placement, the E-Verify requirement applies to your direct employer of record, not the end client.
How does the I-983 training plan work for an Automation engineering role?
The I-983 must connect your daily Automation tasks to learning objectives tied to your STEM degree. For example, if you're programming PLCs or deploying robotic cells, your training plan should map those tasks to coursework in control systems or mechatronics. Your employer's designated representative signs the form, and your DSO must approve it before USCIS processes your extension.
What happens to my work authorization if my OPT expires while my extension is pending?
If you filed your STEM OPT extension application before your initial OPT expired, you're covered by a 180-day cap-gap period that lets you keep working while USCIS adjudicates. You must have filed on time and remain employed with the same E-Verify employer. USCIS issues a receipt notice confirming your continued authorization during this window.
Where can I find Automation jobs at employers enrolled in E-Verify?
Migrate Mate filters Automation job listings specifically for employers enrolled in E-Verify and with STEM OPT hiring history, so you don't have to cross-reference company enrollment separately. You can browse roles by location and automation subdiscipline, then confirm the employer's E-Verify status before applying, which saves significant time during an already tight OPT timeline.