Principal Digital Product Manager, Applied AI

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.
Job Summary:
The AI Accelerator is a key enabler of Caterpillar's next chapter - designed to enable and scale AI adoption and progress across the enterprise. Its mission is to identify opportunities, run experiments, accelerate adoption, ensure AI value realization, support strategic partner engagement, and help develop the frameworks to scale AI solutions globally.
We are building a team of experienced and visionary Applied AI Product Managers to partner directly with our business and functional teams, helping them shape and execute their AI roadmaps and bring high-value AI capabilities to life. This unique role sits at the intersection of business strategy, technical AI/ML capabilities, and user experience. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of AI principles, a passion for solving user problems, and a proven ability to guide technical teams in bringing complex AI capabilities from the lab to production.
What You Will Do:

• Shape the Business Team's AI Roadmap: Embed with assigned business functions to help them define their AI vision, priorities, and roadmap. Identify high-impact opportunities where applied AI can deliver real business value for that team - you're enabling their roadmap, not running a central product line.
• Translate Insights to Requirements: Work closely with stakeholders, business analysts, and users to understand needs. Translate these needs into clear, concise Epics, User Stories, and PRDs (Product Requirements Documents) that specifically address the unique constraints and capabilities of AI/ML systems.
• Build to Learn (Forward-Deployed Mindset): Rapidly prototype AI solutions alongside business users - building quick, functional proofs-of-concept with leading AI tools (e.g., Claude, Copilot, low-code agent builders) to validate value before committing to full production builds.
• Lead the AI Development Lifecycle: Collaborate daily with Data Scientists, ML Engineers, and Software Engineers to manage the AI prototype development lifecycle, including drafting PRDs, technical discovery, agentic workflow design/development and evaluating success.
• Transfer Capability: Build frameworks and playbooks that business teams can use to more independently identify, define and build prototypes. Progressively shift ownership to the business.
• AI Governance and Compliance: Advocate for and ensure that AI products are developed according to Caterpillar's AI governance and compliance requirements.

What You Will Have:

• Strategic Vision: Ability to look beyond current constraints and help a business team see and articulate where AI can take them.
• Builder: Comfort getting into the weeds - spec driven development for quick prototypes, testing prompts, and standing up working demos rather than only writing specs.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Relies heavily on metrics, data, and experimentation to guide product prioritization.
• Bias for Action: Proactive and results-oriented, with a track record of successfully shipping complex products.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: A natural collaborator who can build consensus and drive outcomes across diverse engineering, data science, and business teams.

Considerations for Top Candidates:

• Extensive professional experience (typically 5+ years), with proven experience as a Product Manager focused on Agentic AI, Generative AI, Machine Learning, or AI-powered products (typically 3+ years).
• A solid understanding of the AI lifecycle, common model types (e.g., NLP, Computer Vision, Predictive Models, LLMs), feature engineering, and the challenges of deploying and monitoring models in production environments (MLOps). Don't need to be an expert, but familiarity with tradeoffs and problem types i.e. predictive modeling vs. agentic AI will be important.
• Demonstrated ability to personally build functional prototypes using modern AI tooling (spec driven development and/or low code tools) - a forward-deployed sensibility that pairs product judgment with the ability to build.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex AI concepts to non-technical business leaders and users, as well as define detailed requirements for technical teams.
• Proven ability to define and execute a product roadmap based on quantitative data and user research.
• Direct experience or degree in Data Science or Engineering - nice to have.
• Experience with cloud-based ML platforms (e.g., AWS Sagemaker, Google AI Platform, Azure ML) - nice to have.
• Prior experience managing products in a specific industry (e.g., FinTech, Healthcare, E-commerce) - nice to have.
• Familiarity with A/B testing frameworks for evaluating and improving model-driven features - nice to have.

Why This Role Matters:
Caterpillar is investing in AI to transform how we work - making our teams faster, sharper, and more effective across the enterprise. This role is critical to putting intelligent tools directly into the hands of the people who run our business, helping each function reimagine its work and realize real value from AI. You'll be at the forefront of shaping how Caterpillar becomes an AI-native company.
Additional Information:
This position will have the option to be based out of our Mossville, IL; Denver, CO or Irving, TX offices.
#LI
#BI (used to post on Built In Chicago)
What You Will Get:
Working with a Fortune 100 leader, you can build your career on a global scale and take advantage of development opportunities with emerging technologies. We've created an inclusive environment for you to explore your passions, make an impact and do the work that really matters. Join Us.
About Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we've been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.
Summary Pay Range:
$159,120.00 - $258,570.00
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:
June 8, 2026 - June 21, 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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