Electrical Engineer - Mission Modules - Military veterans preferred

2025-08-27
Forterra
Other

/yr

  employee   contract


Clarksburg
Maryland
20871
United States

About Forterra

Forterra is a leading provider of autonomous systems for ground-based movement in the working world. Amongst some of the earliest innovators in the field of driverless technology, Forterra is focused on building systems that protect front-line soldiers and enable civilian workers in our industrial base. Forterra is the go-to provider of ground autonomy solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense, which harnesses the technology for asymmetric warfare in critical conditions.


About the role


Forterra is building a new generation of mission module capabilities for autonomous ground systems— integrating high-impact payloads like Counter-UAS, fire-control, combat engineering, and advanced ISR into a scalable platform architecture. We're looking for a highly capable Electrical Engineer with experience designing, integrating, and validating complex electrical and networking systems, especially within open architecture frameworks such as the U.S. Army Interoperability Profile (IOP).

You'll play a critical role in ensuring that mission payloads interface reliably and safely with our autonomy stack, power systems, and tactical networks. This is a hands-on role where you'll collaborate closely with autonomy, software, systems, and mechanical teams, government stakeholders, and third-party subsystem providers to drive safety-critical and warfighter-relevant outcomes.

What you'll do

  • Design and integrate power distribution, communications, signal routing, and compute infrastructure for mission payloads, including kinetic effectors, RF systems, sensors, and fire-control modules
  • Architect modular, standards-compliant interfaces using open frameworks like IOP, VICTORY, J1939, and ensure conformance with MIL-STD-1275, MIL-STD-464, MIL-STD-461, and MIL-STD-882E
  • Develop and validate electrical artifacts such as interface control documents (ICDs), wiring diagrams, and harness documentation
  • Lead hands-on system integration, bring-up, and testing across lab and field environments, including EMI/EMC validation and battlefield failure mode protection. • Design and develop custom PCBs and electrical subsystems using Altium, including support for sensor and camera systems with common video transports (GMSL, FPD-Link, Ethernet video)
  • Collaborate with government stakeholders and third-party subsystem providers to align requirements, validate performance, and support operational testing and deployment. Provide ongoing troubleshooting, qualification, and user-centric support for fielded and production systems

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in electrical engineering for defense, robotics, or autonomous platforms
  • Strong understanding of open systems architecture standards (IOP, VICTORY) and mission module integration practices
  • Proficiency with Ethernet, CAN, and serial-based payloads, including fire-control systems and safe/arm architecture
  • Experience in autonomous or robotic systems for DoD use, with working knowledge of power budgeting, MIL-STD-1275 compliance, and vehicle-based DC distribution (12V–48V)
  • Hands-on experience with RF integration and EMI/EMC compliance to MIL-STD-464 and MIL-STD461
  • Experience developing custom PCBs using Altium
  • Competency in sensor and camera system integration with video transport standards
  • Familiarity with MIL-STD-882E and safety-critical electrical design principles
  • U.S. Persons and eligibility for a security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

  • Support experience for live-fire exercises, test events, or operational demos of integrated weapon systems
  • Familiarity with platform power management strategies, including load shedding, battery management (BMS), and redundant architectures
  • Proven history working with Fire control systems and other Mission Critical systems IAW with DOD standards (MIL-STD-882E, WSESRB, FUZE)
  • Knowledge of NATO STANAGs related to vehicle and payload interoperability
  • Experience collaborating with defense primes or integrators and developing supporting documentation (ICDs, test procedures, verification reports)
  • Proficiency in simulation and analysis tools (e.g., SPICE, MATLAB/Simulink) for EMI/EMC modeling or circuit validation
  • Exposure to MIL-STD-810 or similar environmental qualification standards Experience in rapid prototyping and iterative development, including bench-top testing and debugging
  • Familiarity with CAN diagnostic tools (Vector, CANalyzer, SavvyCAN)


US Salary Range
$125,000—$160,000

The salary range for this role is an estimate and is based on a wide variety of compensation factors. The salary offered to candidates will vary based on a variety of factors including (but not limited to) relevant work experience, education, specialized training, critical expertise, training, and more. Equity in Forterra is included in most of our full-time, high-demand roles and is therefore considered part of Forterra's overall compensation package. In addition to base salary and equity, Forterra offers competitive benefits for full-time employees including:

  • Premium Healthcare Benefits: Three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium for you and your dependents.
  • Basic Life/AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance plans 100% covered by Forterra, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
  • Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a winter break in December.
  • Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year.
  • A minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth/adoption.
  • A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
  • Fully stocked beverage refrigerators with all the Celsius your little heart desires.
  • 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral with company match up to 4%.

Your recruiter will be able to share more information about our salary and benefits offering during the hiring process.


Forterra is an equal-opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. Forterrans are unique, talented individuals who are united through a shared passion to deliver autonomous systems that enable national resilience and a robust supply chain. All qualified applications will receive equal consideration for employment.





Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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