Forterra

Forterra

Autonomous driving system for retrofitted vehicles

Cable Harness Manufacturer

Full-TimeUpdated on 9/30/2026
$25 - $30/hr

+ Equity

Entry, Junior, Mid
Clarksburg, MD, USA
In Person

The role is on-site in Clarksburg, with occasional travel and occasional night or weekend work.

No H1B Sponsorship
US Top Secret Clearance Required

About the job

Requirements
  • A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
  • An IPC-620 E certification is required, or the candidate must be willing to obtain it.
  • Proven experience as a Cable Manufacturer or in a similar role, with a strong background in IPC-620 cable assembly, is required.
  • Solid knowledge of IPC-620 standards for cable assembly and wiring is required.
  • Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, schematics, and specifications is required.
  • Hands-on experience with soldering, crimping tools, multimeters, and other cable assembly equipment is required.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines is required.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to addressing issues are required.
Responsibilities
  • Assemble, solder, and wire cable assemblies according to IPC-620 standards.
  • Read and interpret schematics, drawings, and specifications to determine assembly requirements.
  • Conduct quality control checks to ensure that cables and wire harnesses meet client specifications and industry standards.
  • Perform tests on completed cable assemblies to ensure functionality and safety.
  • Identify and resolve issues related to cable assembly, including faulty wiring or incorrect components.
  • Maintain a clean, organized, and safe working environment.
  • Follow established procedures to complete cable assembly tasks efficiently and accurately.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience working with complex cable assemblies for aerospace, military, medical, or automotive industries.
  • Familiarity with cable testing and inspection tools.
  • Technical certification or training in electronics or cable assembly.
  • Three or more years of wiring harness building experience or equivalent training.

About the company

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

$635M

Headquarters

Clarksburg, Maryland

Founded

2002

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Forterra disclosed 105 Lancers deployed to Ukraine on July 7, 2026, accelerating credibility.
  • Forterra won a prime role on Army engineer autonomous breaching in July 2026.
  • MESA launched April 28, 2026, broadening Forterra from logistics into CASEVAC and force protection.

What critics are saying

  • Ukraine use still relies on teleoperation, exposing autonomy gaps against enemy threats today.
  • Army UxS evaluations paused in April 2026, delaying a key validation milestone.
  • Oshkosh, Polaris, and others can outscale Forterra if procurement shifts away from bespoke autonomy.

What makes Forterra unique

  • Forterra integrated AutoDrive with Polaris on MESA, not aftermarket retrofits, in April 2026.
  • Forterra paired AutoDrive with Vektor and goTenna for contested, disconnected tactical networking.
  • Forterra proved combat deployment credibility with 105 Lancers across 1,100 Ukraine missions.

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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

↑ 5%

1 year growth

↑ 0%

2 year growth

↑ 0%
TechCrunch
Jul 7th, 2026
US autonomous ground vehicles see combat in Ukraine after 9-month deployment

Forterra has deployed over 100 autonomous ATVs in Ukraine for the past nine months, marking what the company believes is the largest deployment of autonomous ground vehicles in combat by a US defence tech company. The gas-powered Lancer vehicles, based on Polaris ATVs, can carry 750 kilograms of cargo and have driven more than 2,500 miles across 1,100 missions, completing 52 casualty evacuations. Ukrainian forces primarily teleoperate the vehicles rather than using full autonomy, as the technology cannot yet identify and respond to enemy threats independently. Forterra, which has raised over $500 million from investors including XYZ Venture Capital and Moore Strategic Partners, is working to combine traditional autonomous vehicle algorithms with generative AI. Ukrainian soldiers have requested cheaper versions to account for battlefield attrition whilst maintaining deployment flexibility.

Yahoo Finance
Apr 28th, 2026
Forterra unveils MESA autonomous vehicle for last-mile battlefield operations

Forterra has unveiled MESA, a modular autonomous vehicle platform designed for last-tactical-mile operations. Built on a factory-modified Polaris Ranger XD 1500, the vehicle integrates Forterra's AutoDrive® and Vektor mission modules to deliver mobility, computing, communications and sensing capabilities. The MESA platform features a flat deck design with 2,000 pounds of payload capacity, enabling rapid reconfiguration for mission-specific requirements. The system provides autonomous navigation in GPS-denied environments whilst maintaining secure connectivity across distributed forces. Forterra's autonomy technology has been proven in real-world operations including the USMC ROGUE Fires programme and various SOCOM initiatives. The vehicle is manufactured directly with Polaris, with modifications executed alongside the original equipment manufacturer to ensure platform integration without aftermarket chassis changes.

GlobeNewswire
Nov 12th, 2025
Forterra Closes $238 Million Series C, Cementing Leadership in Autonomy and Interoperable Systems

Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forterra, the company redefining autonomy and mission system interoperability for defense and...

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
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.