Full-Time

Vehicle Control Software Engineer

Posted on 6/30/2025

Forterra

Forterra

501-1,000 employees

Autonomous driving system for retrofitted vehicles

Compensation Overview

$100k - $200k/yr

+ Equity Grants

Arlington, VA, USA

In Person

Category
Software Engineering (1)
Requirements
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Control Systems, or a related field
  • Minimum of 1-2 years of experience in control systems engineering
  • Strong background in control theory and control systems design
  • Proficiency in programming languages such as C++, Python, and MATLAB/Simulink
  • Experience with vehicle dynamics and actuation systems
  • Strong product mindset with a focus on delivering customer value
  • Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team environment
  • Travel Requirements: 10-25%
  • Clearance eligibility - This position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
Responsibilities
  • Architect and develop control software modules for vehicle actuation systems
  • Implement control algorithms for throttle, brake, and steering actuators
  • Implement and tune trajectory following algorithms
  • Interface and integrate with body control systems for base vehicle platforms
  • Interface and integrate with base vehicle platform CAN bus network
  • Develop and troubleshoot on base vehicle platform
  • Engage directly in coding, testing, and debugging
  • Develop solutions for unknown technical challenges
  • Explore and implement AI and machine learning techniques for control model training
  • Stay updated with the latest industry trends and technologies
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with real-world controls experience in automotive, aerospace, or related field is preferred
  • Familiarity with AI and machine learning techniques for control systems is a plus

Forterra provides autonomous vehicle technology for defense and industrial sectors. Its AutoDrive® installs as a retrofit kit that adds sensors, computing, and software to existing ground vehicles, enabling unmanned operation in challenging environments. It differentiates itself by upgrading current fleets rather than buying new vehicles and by serving both military and industrial markets. The goal is to deploy and scale AutoDrive® across applications to improve efficiency and safety, backed by its Series B funding.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$634M

Headquarters

Clarksburg, Maryland

Founded

2002

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • BAE Systems partnership develops AMPV prototype by 2026, expanding to Bradley A4.
  • $238M funding at $1B valuation accelerates MESA and AutoTT production in 2026.
  • Kalmar JDA integrates AutoDrive into terminal tractors for ports by late 2026.

What critics are saying

  • BAE develops in-house autonomy for Bradley A4, eroding Forterra's expansions in 12 months.
  • DoD cancels RCV and SMET under Replicator, stranding vehicles without contracts in 18 months.
  • goTenna integration fails GPS-denied tests, triggering investor exodus in 6 months.

What makes Forterra unique

  • AutoDrive retrofits drive-by-wire vehicles for off-road, GPS-denied autonomy across defense platforms.
  • TerraLink orchestrates multi-vehicle swarms via TAK and WMI military interfaces.
  • Selected for DoD's RCV, GEARS, ROGUE Fires, and SMET programs with 400,000 miles driven.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Paid Vacation

Parental Leave

Professional Development Budget

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Holidays

Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-6%

1 year growth

-5%

2 year growth

-9%
Bloomberg Law
Nov 12th, 2025
Forterra Raises $238M, Hits $1B Valuation

Forterra, a startup specializing in autonomous military vehicle technology, has raised $238 million in a new funding round, boosting its valuation to over $1 billion. The funding, which includes $50 million in debt, was led by Moore Strategic Ventures. The investment will accelerate the production of Forterra's versatile military vehicles, capable of operating individually or in swarms for tasks like surveillance and transporting missiles and AI-supporting hardware.

Bloomberg L.P.
Nov 12th, 2025
Autonomous Military Vehicle Startup Notches Over $1 Billion Valuation in New Deal

Moore Strategic Ventures, Franklin Templeton and others have invested $238 million in Forterra.

CityBiz
Oct 9th, 2025
Forterra Acquires goTenna Networking Solutions

Forterra, a leader in autonomous mission systems, has announced its acquisition of goTenna, a pioneer in tactical mesh networking solutions.

intelligence360
Sep 29th, 2025
Forterra Raises $188M in New Funding

Robotic Research OpCo, operating as Forterra, has filed a notice with the U.S. SEC for an exempt offering to raise up to $188.3 million in new funding. This filing is required under federal securities law for companies selling securities without registration under specific exemptions. The notice must be filed within 15 days of the first sale. Forterra specializes in autonomous vehicle systems for defense and national security.

The Business Journals
Aug 22nd, 2025
Forterra raises $93M for autonomous vehicles

Clarksburg-based autonomous vehicle developer Forterra has raised $93 million in funding.

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