Software Lead - Tactical Robots

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

The Platform Verticals at Forterra develop mission specific, autonomous ground vehicle platforms spanning both the commercial yard truck space and military vehicle applications. Our systems must be field-ready, reliable, and compliant with safety, cybersecurity, and mission assurance standards. We work closely with government and commercial stakeholders to deliver high-performance ground autonomy solutions for complex, real-world environments.

We are seeking a Software Lead to direct software development and integration efforts for cutting-edge defense autonomy programs within several of our Platform Verticals. This role demands technical excellence and proven leadership across full-lifecycle software development in complex, multi-disciplinary environments. The Software Lead will manage internal cross-functional software teams, ensure delivery of compliant and mission-ready software systems, and interface directly with both government stakeholders and internal technical leadership to create reliable software solutions for our systems.

This is not a coordination role — it requires deep technical skill, engineering judgment, cross-domain understanding, and leadership under pressure.

What you'll do

• Own software delivery as the software technical lead for major autonomy programs, accountable for platform software architecture and execution outcomes
• Lead planning, design, implementation, and verification of autonomy software across disciplines including perception, behavior generation, planning, controls, embedded systems, and infrastructure
• Develop and enforce real-time system architecture, interfaces, and integration strategies to meet mission and safety requirements
• Drive execution by aligning development with program milestones and delivery schedules, managing risk across complex defense autonomy programs
• Translate high-level requirements into actionable development plans and engineering artifacts
• Support safety-critical software engineering activities and work with safety engineering to ensure compliance with software safety engineering best practices
• Support the generation and approval of documentation packages necessary for fielding and Authority to Operate (ATO)
• Set clear technical direction, enforce best practices in coding, CI/CD, DevSecOps, and technical documentation
• Build trust and credibility with both internal stakeholders and external partners through effective communication and delivery

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., Ph.D. in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field
• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience
• Deep experience in robotics or autonomous systems, preferably within defense, aerospace, or safety-critical domains
• Mastery of C++, ROS, real-time operating systems, Linux-based systems, and containerized/cloud-native tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
• Track record of delivering integrated software in fielded or experimental systems
• Familiarity with secure coding standards, cyber assurance processes, and DevSecOps workflows
• U.S. Citizenship required; active security clearance or ability to obtain one strongly preferred
• Candidates who can work on site at our Maryland facility

What we love to see

• Preferred past experience in a technical leadership role
• Travel: 20% - 30% including customer site visits, field testing, and in-office engineering collaboration

US Salary Range
 $150,000—$220,000/annually
 

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.

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