Lifecycle Specialist

Career Area:

Supply Chain and Logistics

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.

The Life Cycle Specialist supports the end-to-end lifecycle management and commercialization of autonomous system solutions, with a focus on autonomous kits, service parts, serviceability, supply-chain readiness, and software execution.

This role serves as a key interface among customers and dealers, Engineering, Supply Chain, PSLD, Commercial teams, and Aftermarket organizations to ensure autonomous products and services are ready for successful NPI launch and sustainable lifecycle support.

Key Responsibilities

1. Market Requirements & Aftermarket Insights

• Collect and analyze customer, dealer, and market requirements for autonomous kits and service parts.
• Identify aftermarket pain points and translate field feedback into actionable requirements for kit development, parts support, and service improvement.
• Support prioritization of lifecycle improvement opportunities based on customer value, business impact, and market needs.

2. Autonomous System Serviceability

• Define and develop serviceability requirements for system hardware cooperating with Engineering.
• Work with Engineering and service teams to ensure component designs support efficient diagnostics, maintenance, repair, replacement, and field service.
• Incorporate dealer and customer service feedback into product and lifecycle improvement activities.

3. Distribution & Stock Planning

• Develop distribution strategy, stocking plans, and parts availability requirements for NPI programs in collaboration with Supply Chain and PSLD.
• Identify appropriate stocking and distribution strategies to support product launch and field operations.
• Monitor inventory and supply-chain readiness and drive resolution of identified gaps.

4. Kit & Service Parts Readiness Governance

• Establish and maintain governance for on-time readiness of autonomous kits and service parts.
• Track readiness status, risks, gaps, and recovery actions against NPI program milestones.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure required parts, kits, documentation, and support processes are available for production readiness.

5. Autonomous Software Commercial Execution

• Support commercial execution of autonomous system software in collaboration with Commercial teams and dealers.
• Coordinate software offering, deployment, entitlement/licensing, upgrade, and lifecycle support requirements.
• Support dealer readiness and execution processes for software introduction and ongoing customer support.
• Capture implementation feedback and drive improvements to software lifecycle processes.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Customer & Market Insight: Ability to translate customer and dealer pain points into actionable product and aftermarket requirements.
• Data Gathering & Analysis: Ability to collect, analyze, and synthesize information from customers, dealers, Engineering, Supply Chain, and other stakeholders.
• Inventory & Supply Chain Management: Understanding of distribution, inventory planning, parts availability, and NPI supply-chain readiness.
• Product Serviceability: Understanding of maintenance, diagnostics, repair, parts replacement, and field support requirements for complex systems.
• Program & Readiness Management: Ability to manage milestones, risks, issues, action plans, and cross-functional dependencies.
• Problem Solving & Process Improvement: Ability to identify systemic lifecycle issues and drive sustainable corrective actions.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively across Engineering, Supply Chain, PLSD, Commercial teams, dealers, and customers.

Education and Working Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Logistic, Supply Chain Management, Automotive Engineering, Automation, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical/business discipline.
• 8+ years of relevant industry working experience.

Posting Dates:

November 9, 2026 - November 26, 2026

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.