Chief Engineer - Autonomy Software, Fleet & Integration
About JLG, an Oshkosh company
JLG began in 1969, when our founder, John L. Grove set out to resolve growing safety concerns in the construction industry. Since then we have been committed to understanding the challenges and delivering innovative solutions to the access market. We partner with customers to provide quality equipment, training opportunities and trusted support within the access industry. We are a global company, and our products—including mobile elevating work platforms, telehandlers, utility vehicles and accessories—can be found all over the world.
The Chief Engineer - Autonomy Software, Fleet & Integration will provide hands-on technical leadership for the software platforms, infrastructure, communications, and integration capabilities that support autonomous and connected equipment.
This role is designed for a strong software and automation engineer who has built, stabilized, deployed, and supported complex production systems. Direct experience developing autonomy algorithms is not required. Experience with manufacturing systems, industrial automation, connected devices, fleet systems, distributed applications, or mission-critical software can provide a strong foundation for success.
The Chief Engineer will guide the architecture and implementation of systems that connect vehicles, fleet-management applications, manufacturing and enterprise platforms, operators, and external services. The position will work closely with autonomy, controls, electrical, systems, cybersecurity, product, manufacturing, and service teams.
This is primarily a senior technical role. Success will depend on practical software-development ability, systems thinking, production troubleshooting, and the ability to lead technical decisions across organizational boundaries.
YOUR IMPACT
Provide technical leadership for software architecture, infrastructure, fleet integration, vehicle connectivity, and operational tools.
Design and improve systems spanning onboard software, edge applications, plant systems, databases, and cloud or enterprise services.
Guide fleet capabilities such as mission exchange, vehicle status, configuration, health monitoring, diagnostics, and software deployment.
Define reliable communication interfaces using APIs, messaging, event-driven architectures, MQTT, WebSockets, or similar technologies.
Build and improve automated development, test, deployment, configuration, and release processes.
Promote modular, reusable, maintainable, and observable software that can support multiple vehicles, facilities, and product lines.
Diagnose complex failures across software, networking, databases, automation platforms, and third-party integrations.
Lead root-cause investigations and translate findings into durable architectural or process improvements.
Collaborate with autonomy and controls engineers to establish clear interfaces between vehicle behavior software and supporting platform services.
Support prototype integration, commissioning, production ramp-up, field deployments, and ongoing fleet operations.
Establish practical engineering standards for source control, testing, documentation, release management, cybersecurity, and production support.
Mentor engineers and act as a trusted technical advisor to engineering leaders, integrators, suppliers, and customers.
Evaluate new technologies and communicate technical tradeoffs, risks, and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Maintain architecture diagrams, interface definitions, technical decisions, deployment procedures, and troubleshooting documentation.
Perform duties in an ethical and professional manner consistent with company policies, quality objectives, and the Oshkosh Way.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Associate or bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Engineering Technology, Automation, Information Systems, or a related field; equivalent military, technical, or professional experience will also be considered.
Eight or more years of experience in software development, automation, systems integration, manufacturing technology, or related technical work.
Demonstrated experience designing, deploying, stabilizing, or supporting software used in live production or operational environments.
Experience with software development or scripting using languages such as Python, C#, JavaScript, PowerShell, Shell, Java, or C++.
Experience with relational databases and SQL.
Experience integrating systems through APIs, messaging, sockets, WebSockets, MQTT, or comparable communication methods.
Experience with source control, automated deployment, continuous integration, or other modern software-delivery practices.
Strong troubleshooting and root-cause-analysis skills across software, infrastructure, networking, and integrated systems.
Ability to communicate technical concepts and decisions to engineers, operations teams, leaders, suppliers, and customers.
STANDOUT QUALIFICATION
Experience with manufacturing execution systems, SCADA platforms, industrial automation, or digital manufacturing.
Experience with Ignition, Sepasoft, or comparable MES and industrial application platforms.
Experience with autonomous mobile robots, fleet-management systems, telematics, connected equipment, or industrial IoT.
Experience with Docker or other containerized development and deployment environments.
Experience developing automated deployment workflows with GitHub Actions or comparable tools.
Experience with event-driven and distributed system architectures.
Experience designing systems that must operate through intermittent connectivity or production disruptions.
Experience with Microsoft SQL Server, JSON-based data models, operational visualization, or production analytics.
Familiarity with Linux, cloud or edge computing, device management, observability, or over-the-air software deployment.
Familiarity with ROS 2, embedded systems, vehicle networks, PLCs, industrial protocols, cybersecurity, or functional safety.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Practical Software Architecture
Ability to create architectures that are scalable and maintainable while remaining grounded in operational realities, support needs, and delivery constraints.
Production Systems Thinking
Ability to understand how applications, databases, networks, automation systems, vehicles, operators, and business processes interact in a live environment.
Troubleshooting and Stabilization
Ability to analyze complex system behavior, inspect communication and data flows, isolate root causes, and implement lasting improvements.
#LI-VR
Pay Range:
$118,600.00 - $204,000.00The above pay range reflects the minimum and maximum target pay for the position across all U.S. locations. Within this range, individual pay is determined by various factors, including the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, education and skills, as well as the equity of pay among team members in similar positions. Beyond offering a competitive total rewards package, we prioritize a people-first culture and offer various opportunities to support team member growth and success.
Oshkosh is committed to working with and offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to disability for any part of the employment process, please contact us at corporatetalentacquisition@oshkoshcorp.com.
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