Embedded Sustainment Firmware engineer

Forterra • Clarksburg, MD

5d • $120,000 - $150,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Forterra is seeking a product-focused Embedded Software/Firmware Engineer to sustain and develop safe, scalable autonomous vehicle hardware. The role supports existing projects and brings up new hardware platforms, develops firmware for microcontrollers and microprocessors, and ensures system functionality and safety through rigorous testing. The engineer collaborates with product, hardware, systems, and firmware teams to support and develop new platforms.

The position spans the full hardware and firmware product lifecycle, from ideation through manufacturing and support. Work includes evaluating and testing new hardware, developing board bring-up and production firmware, creating diagnostic and characterization tools, and validating processor, memory, and communication interfaces. The engineer also documents software architecture, test procedures, and debugging processes, and supports hardware and firmware during development and production.

This is an on-site role in Clarksburg, Maryland. The stated U.S. salary range is $120,000–$150,000. The role may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of embedded software development experience with Linux and product development experience.
• At least 3 years working with hardware test tools such as 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 an RTOS such as FreeRTOS or Zephyr.
• Some experience with Linux as a desktop operating system or embedded in a device.
• Hands-on experience with board bring-up and low-level debugging.
• Knowledge of hardware communication protocols including Ethernet, CAN, I2C, SPI, and UART.
• Familiarity with embedded development tools such as JTAG debuggers, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
• Experience with TCP on embedded platforms and larger systems.
• Experience reading schematics and integrated-circuit data sheets.
• Time-management and organizational skills.
• Troubleshooting and triage experience, including the ability to organize complex debugging scenarios.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing hardware and firmware throughout the product lifecycle, from ideation through manufacturing and support.
• Help establish production-line tooling and diagnostics for existing systems.
• Evaluate pre-release hardware and tooling for next-generation systems.
• Review schematics and provide guidance on signal assignment and wiring.
• Build working knowledge of new systems, processors, sensors, and tooling for product development.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers on system architecture, design reviews, and debugging.
• Perform and support new-board testing and characterization using low-level firmware.
• Create proof-of-concept setups to test isolated functions of new hardware.
• Provide firmware functionality for production-line testing in collaboration with hardware engineers.
• Guide other teams adopting new hardware and tooling platforms.
• Develop firmware for different product lifecycle stages, from prototype through production.
• Develop board bring-up firmware to test signals, buses, and processors and verify wiring.
• Develop Windows or Linux tools to display signal states, test boards, and support characterization.
• Develop firmware and software to operate boards as designed in pre-production environments.
• Implement drivers, bootloaders, and system-level software for initial board functionality.
• Help load, bring up, and test production-level firmware on new boards.
• Provide test firmware for manufacturing and automated infant-mortality reporting.
• Develop and deploy test firmware and software revisions to aid diagnostics of embedded Linux systems.
• Develop test plans to validate processors, memory, and communication interfaces, including Ethernet, CAN, I2C, SPI, and UART.
• Bring up and debug 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.
• Help debug fielded issues and deliver product improvements.
• Coordinate with hardware, software, and systems engineers to ensure integration.
• Document software architecture, test plans, and debugging procedures.
• Provide technical support for hardware and firmware during development and production.
• Apply documentation and code-commit best practices so other teams can use software designs and code.
• Provide product documentation needed for safety requirements, manuals, and test procedures.

Benefits

• Premium healthcare benefits with three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan; Forterra covers 80% of premiums for employees and dependents.
• Basic life/AD&D and short- and long-term disability insurance plans fully covered by Forterra, with the option to purchase additional life insurance for the employee and dependents.
• Company holiday calendar that includes a winter break in December.
• 20 days of paid time off accrued per year.
• At least 7 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birth or adoption.
• $9,000 annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with traditional, Roth, and after-tax deferral options and a company match up to 4%.
• Equity is included in most full-time, high-demand roles.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level