Software Engineer, Safety Critical Embedded Systems

Forterra • Clarksburg, MD

12h • $150,000 - $175,000

About The Position

Forterra is hiring a Software Engineer to design, implement, test, and maintain safety-critical embedded software for autonomous ground vehicles. This individual-contributor role spans the full software lifecycle, from requirements and design through implementation, integration, debugging, and verification. The engineer will work closely with software, systems, test, and safety engineers to deliver dependable code, solve embedded-software problems, and produce evidence for customer and safety reviews.

The role is suited to someone who enjoys working close to hardware and building software that must behave correctly in real-world conditions. The engineer is expected to take problems from requirements through implementation, integration, debugging, and verification while collaborating with engineers across disciplines. The position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Travel is 10–25%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Three or more years of experience developing embedded software or safety-critical software.
• Proficiency in C or C++ and working knowledge of Python or another scripting language.
• Experience developing software for an RTOS, embedded target, or other resource-constrained system.
• Experience with Git, CMake, continuous integration, code review, and related software development practices.
• Familiarity with requirements management, requirements traceability, and software verification.
• Familiarity with MISRA C or MISRA C++, static analysis, unit testing, and code coverage.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, along with clear written and verbal communication.
• Travel of 10–25%.
• May need to be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Experience applying safety-critical development and assurance standards such as ISO 26262, IEC 61508, DO-178C, MIL-STD-882E, JSSSEH, or JS-SSA-IG.
• Experience with QNX, Linux, NXP S32G, or similar embedded platforms.
• Experience with CAN, CAN-FD, Ethernet, UDS, J1939, or other vehicle networks and diagnostic protocols.
• Understanding of robotics domains such as motion control, planning, perception, fault management, and vehicle interfaces.
• Experience integrating electromechanical systems in automotive, aerospace, medical, industrial, defense, or similar environments.
• Experience providing technical leadership through design reviews, mentoring, or improvements to shared development practices.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain safety-critical embedded software for autonomous ground vehicle platforms.
• Translate system and software requirements into readable, testable C and C++ code.
• Implement fault detection, fault handling, diagnostics, and safe-response behavior across supported vehicle platforms.
• Write unit, integration, and target-based tests, and support automated verification and coverage analysis.
• Debug hardware, software, firmware, timing, communications, and integration problems using logs, traces, debuggers, and instrumentation.
• Participate in architecture, design, code, and test-plan reviews, emphasizing correctness, safety, maintainability, and testability.
• Document implementation decisions, test results, anomaly resolution, and requirements traceability for review and reuse.
• Collaborate with systems, test, and safety engineers to improve requirements, resolve defects, support assessments, and strengthen shared software practices.

Benefits

• Equity is included in most full-time, high-demand roles.
• 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, short-term disability, 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 seven 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 401(k), and after-tax deferral options, plus company match up to 4%.

What This Job Offers

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