Embedded Sustainment Firmware Engineer

About Forterra

At Forterra, we are unleashing autonomy at scale to transform the battlefield. Our mission is to build the foundational platforms that enable an intelligent ecosystem to coordinate, adapt, and execute with speed and precision even in the uncertainty and disruption of modern conflict. In an era marked by rapid technological change and evolving threats, we design for flexibility, survivability, and operational dominance.

Forterra delivers weapons, sensors, and battlefield effects through integrated autonomous networks reaching operational areas faster, safer, and without placing human lives at risk. Our systems operate with distributed control, dynamic routing, and real-time responsiveness, enabling sustained advantage across complex mission environments.

About the role

We are looking for a product focused Embedded Software/Firmware Engineer to help sustain and develop next generation, cutting edge, safe, and scalable autonomous vehicle hardware. You will work at the intersection of embedded systems and autonomous technology, supporting existing projects, bringing up new hardware platforms, writing firmware for microcontrollers and microprocessors, and ensuring system functionality and safety through rigorous testing. You will closely collaborate with deployed product teams, hardware, systems, and other FW engineers to support and develop new cutting edge platforms for Forterra.

What you'll do

Work with new hardware:

• Assist in developing hardware/FW through the full product lifecycle from ideation through manufacturing and support.
• Aid in establishing production line tooling, as well as diagnostics capabilities for existing systems.
• Help evaluate new pre-release hardware and tooling for use on next generation systems.
• Review schematics and provide guidance and feedback on signal assignment and wiring.
• Quickly establish a working knowledge of new complete systems, microcontrollers, microprocessors, sensors, and tooling with a view toward product development.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to understand system architecture, participate in design reviews, and debug issues.
• Perform and support new board testing and characterization with low-level firmware.
• Create proof-of-concept setups testing isolated functions of new hardware.
• Work with hardware engineers to provide FW functionality for production line testing.
• Provide guidance to other teams adopting the new hardware and tooling platform.

Develop FW and SW:

• Develop FW for different stages of the product lifecycle; prototype through production.
• Develop board bring-up FW to test signals, busses, and processors to prove wiring.
• Develop tools in Windows or Linux to show signal states, test boards, and support characterization.
• Develop FW and SW to allow boards to operate as designed in a pre-production environment.
• Implement drivers, bootloaders, and system-level software for initial board functionality.
• Assist to get production level FW loaded, working, and tested on new boards.
• Provide test FW to support product manufacturing and automated infant mortality reporting.
• Develop and deploy test FW and SW revisions to aid in diagnostics of embedded Linux systems.

Testing & Validation:

• Develop test plans to validate processor, memory, and communication interfaces (Ethernet, CAN, I2C, SPI, UART, etc.) to support all phases of product development.
• Perform bring-up and debugging of embedded systems using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and debugging tools.
• Set up and execute final acceptance testing for hardware validation before deployment.
• Assist in developing manufacturing and production tests.
• Assist in debugging fielded issues and providing product improvements.

Collaboration & Documentation:

• Work closely with hardware, software, and systems engineers to ensure seamless integration.
• Document software architecture, test plans, and debugging procedures.
• Provide technical support for hardware and firmware during development and production.
• Implement best practices on documenting SW designs and committing code for other teams to use.
• Provide product documentation required to reach safety requirements, product manuals, test procedures, etc.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• 3+ years of experience in embedded software development (Linux) and product development experience.
• 3+ years working with hardware test tools like Oscilloscopes, analyzers, and meters.
• Experience with ARM Cortex-M/R/A processors or similar embedded platforms.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems.
• Experience with bare metal programming and RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr).
• Some experience with Linux as a desktop or embedded in a device.
• Hands-on experience with board bring-up and low-level debugging.
• Knowledge of hardware communication protocols (Ethernet, CAN, I2C, SPI, UART).
• Familiarity with embedded development tools (JTAG debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers).
• Experience with TCP both on embedded platforms and larger systems.
• Experience reading schematics and integrated circuit data sheets.
• Time management and organizational skills.
• Troubleshooting and triage experience, ability to organize complex debugging scenarios.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with automotive or robotics hardware.
• Knowledge of safety-critical software development (ISO 26262, MISRA).
• Experience in regulated environments.
• Experience with embedded Linux.
• Familiarity with scripting languages (Python, Bash).
• Experience in Agile environments.
• Familiarity with Quality Assurance practices and documentation standards.
• Experience working with Contract manufacturers.

US Salary Range
 $120,000 - $150,000

Location

On-Site in Clarksburg, MD

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.

CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY - This position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. For more information about U.S. Security Clearances: click here.   

Forterra is an equal-opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in all personnel practices. 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 applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any factor, including veteran and disability status, and criminal history, in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

Forterra is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

To see Forterra’s candidate data privacy policy, please visit Forterra Legal | Job Applicant Privacy Notice.