Embedded Sustainment Firmware engineer

Forterra • Clarksburg, MD

1d • 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 new hardware platforms, including microcontroller and microprocessor firmware development, system functionality, and safety testing. The engineer collaborates with deployed product teams, hardware, systems, and firmware engineers across the product lifecycle, from ideation and prototyping through manufacturing and support.

The position includes hardware evaluation and board bring-up; development of firmware, software, tools, and test capabilities; validation of processors, memory, and communication interfaces; and support for manufacturing, diagnostics, and fielded products. The engineer documents software architecture, test plans, debugging procedures, and product materials needed to support safety requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of experience in embedded software development (Linux) and product development.
• 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

• Support hardware and firmware development across the full product lifecycle, from ideation through manufacturing and product 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 feedback on signal assignment and wiring.
• Learn new systems, processors, microcontrollers, sensors, and tooling for product development.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers on system architecture, design reviews, and debugging.
• Perform and support board testing and characterization with low-level firmware, and create proof-of-concept setups for isolated hardware functions.
• Provide firmware functionality for production-line testing and guide other teams adopting new hardware and tooling platforms.
• Develop firmware for product prototypes through production, including board bring-up firmware to test signals, buses, processors, and wiring.
• Develop Windows or Linux tools to display signal states, test boards, and support characterization.
• Develop firmware and software to operate boards in pre-production environments; implement drivers, bootloaders, and system-level software for initial board functionality.
• Help load, operate, and test production-level firmware on new boards.
• Develop test firmware for manufacturing and automated infant-mortality reporting; deploy revisions to support diagnostics of embedded Linux systems.
• Develop test plans for processors, memory, and communication interfaces across product-development phases.
• Bring up and debug embedded systems using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and debugging tools.
• Set up and execute final acceptance testing for hardware before deployment; assist with manufacturing and production tests.
• Debug fielded issues and provide product improvements.
• Collaborate with hardware, software, and systems engineers to ensure integration.
• Document software architecture, test plans, debugging procedures, designs, code, and product materials such as manuals and test procedures.
• Provide technical support for hardware and firmware during development and production.
• Apply best practices for documenting software designs and committing code for other teams to use.

Benefits

• Premium healthcare benefits with three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan; Forterra covers 80% of plan 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 employees and dependents.
• Company holiday calendar, including 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.
• Stocked beverage refrigerators.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with traditional, Roth, and after-tax deferral options and company matching 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