Lead Digital Project Manager

Career Area:

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.

About the Role

We are seeking a Project/Program Manager to lead the delivery and execution of our next-generation digital data platform for manufacturing. This role partners closely with engineering, product, and business leaders to drive end-to-end program management, stakeholder alignment, integration, implementation strategy, and user acceptance testing (UAT) for transformative digital solutions in smart factories and advanced manufacturing ecosystems.

You will orchestrate cross-functional teams, manage complex project portfolios, and ensure successful platform rollout and adoption across global manufacturing operations.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Delivery

• Own end-to-end delivery of digital platform initiatives, from concept through deployment and post-launch support.
• Develop and manage detailed program plans, timelines, milestones, and budgets.
• Drive Agile program execution, ensuring alignment with product strategy and technical roadmaps.

Platform Strategy & Roadmap Execution

• Lead the development and execution of the digital platform strategy, aligning with enterprise manufacturing and supply chain transformation goals.
• Translate business needs into a clear product roadmap, balancing long-term vision with near-term deliverables.

Cross-Functional Program Orchestration

• Manage program execution across product, engineering, operations, and vendor teams.
• Ensure milestones are met, risks are mitigated, and dependencies are proactively managed to deliver scalable, secure, and high-impact platform capabilities.

User-Centric Design & Adoption

• Advocate for user experience across manufacturing and supply personas.
• Collaborate with UX, data, and operations teams to ensure platform features are intuitive, valuable, and drive measurable adoption and productivity improvements.

Impact Measurement & Continuous Improvement

• Define and track KPIs such as platform adoption, operational efficiency, and business value realization.
• Use insights to iterate on product features, improve program execution, and inform strategic decisions.

Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, including engineering, manufacturing SMEs, business leaders, and technology partners (e.g., NVIDIA, Siemens).
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration, communication, and decision-making to resolve issues and drive consensus.

Integration & Implementation

• Oversee integration of platform components with manufacturing systems (ERP, MES, PLM, IIoT, etc.).
• Define and execute implementation approaches, rollout strategies, and change management plans for multi-site/global deployments.

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) & Quality Assurance

• Develop UAT frameworks and coordinate testing activities with business users and engineering teams.
• Ensure solutions meet business requirements, quality standards, and compliance needs.

End-to-End Implementation Planning & Execution

• Own the full lifecycle of platform deployment—from pilot to scale—ensuring alignment with manufacturing and supply chain operations.
• Develop detailed implementation plans, coordinate cross-functional teams, and manage timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.

Operational Readiness & Change Enablement

• Partner with plant operations, IT, and supply chain leaders to prepare environments, train users, and establish support models.
• Drive change management strategies to ensure smooth adoption, minimize disruption, and embed platform capabilities into daily workflows.

Risk & Issue Management

• Identify program risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Proactively resolve issues and remove roadblocks to ensure timely delivery.

Reporting & Governance

• Provide regular program status updates to leadership and steering committees.
• Establish governance structures, prioritization frameworks, and support models for long-term platform sustainability.

Continuous Improvement

• Gather user feedback and drive continuous improvement of platform capabilities, processes, and delivery practices.

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in product management, program management, or project management roles, with significant exposure to digital platforms in manufacturing, supply chain, or industrial domains.
• Proven track record of delivering large-scale, cross-functional technology programs in complex enterprise environments.
• Proven track record in Data Governance, Data Management and Data Quality Management
• Deep understanding of manufacturing systems integration (ERP, MES, PLM, IIoT) and digital transformation best practices.
• Experience with Agile methodologies, program management tools, and stakeholder engagement across global teams.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to influence and drive change across diverse teams.
• Demonstrated ability to define implementation strategies, go-to-market approaches, manage UAT, and ensure successful adoption of new technologies.
• Experience working with cloud-native platforms, data analytics, and Industry 4.0 technologies is highly desirable.

Preferred Skills

• Exposure to digital twins, simulation platforms (Omniverse, Unity, Unreal Engine), and AI/ML-driven manufacturing solutions.
• Experience in cybersecurity, compliance, and governance for OT/IT systems.
• Prior work with AR/VR/XR applications, autonomous robotics, or cyber-physical systems.
• Published work or contributions in digital manufacturing/Industry 4.0.

Posting Dates:

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

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.