Software Systems Engineer, Safety Critical Embedded Systems

Forterra • Clarksburg, MD

14h • $150,000 - $175,000

About The Position

Forterra is seeking a Software Systems Engineer to define and integrate requirements, architecture, interfaces, and verification approaches for safety-critical embedded software supporting autonomous ground vehicles. This individual-contributor role works across software, systems, test, and safety engineering. The engineer translates operational and safety needs into implementable requirements and interfaces, maintains traceability through verification, and helps teams understand software behavior, integration, and performance across multiple platforms. The role calls for someone able to connect system intent to implementation, work directly with embedded software teams, and understand how technical decisions affect the broader vehicle and safety case.

The salary range is $150,000–$175,000 USD. Salary offered may vary based on factors including relevant experience, education, specialized training, and expertise. Equity is included in most full-time, high-demand roles and is considered part of Forterra’s compensation package. The position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Forterra describes its benefits for full-time employees as including three healthcare plan options, with the company covering 80% of premiums for employees and dependents; company-paid basic life/AD&D and short- and long-term disability insurance, with optional additional life insurance; a company holiday calendar that includes a December winter break; 20 days of PTO 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; and a 401(k) plan with a company match of up to 4%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Five or more years of systems engineering experience with complex embedded, autonomous, automotive, aerospace, defense, or industrial systems.
• Hands-on experience developing and managing system or software requirements, including requirements traceability and clear verification criteria.
• Experience with functional decomposition, allocation, interface definition, and architecture development for embedded systems.
• Working technical knowledge of embedded software, including C or C++, RTOS concepts, communications, and hardware/software interfaces.
• Experience using requirements or architecture tools such as Jama, DOORS, SysML, UML, or comparable tools.
• Familiarity with verification planning, integration, anomaly resolution, and technical evidence for customer or program reviews.
• Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical relationships clearly.

Nice To Haves

• Experience applying safety-critical development and assurance standards such as MIL-STD-882E, JSSSEH, JS-SSA-IG, ISO 26262, IEC 61508, or DO-178C.
• Experience with hazard analysis and safety engineering activities such as FHA, STPA, functional allocation, mitigation analysis, or safety case development.
• Experience defining interfaces and behavior for vehicle networks, diagnostics, fault management, or safety monitoring functions.
• Understanding of robotics domains such as motion control, planning, perception, localization, vehicle dynamics, and platform integration.
• Experience working across multiple vehicle variants or programs while maintaining a reusable technical baseline.
• Experience providing technical leadership through architecture reviews, requirements workshops, mentoring, or cross-functional integration.

Responsibilities

• Derive, refine, and maintain system and software requirements for safety-critical embedded functions.
• Break system functions into implementable software responsibilities and support functional allocation across system elements.
• Define interfaces, data flows, operating modes, fault behavior, and assumptions for embedded software components.
• Maintain traceability among hazards, safety goals, mitigations, requirements, architecture, and verification evidence.
• Review software and system designs for completeness, consistency, testability, diagnosability, and safe behavior under faults and abnormal conditions.
• Work with software and test engineers to establish verification methods, resolve requirement issues, and assess coverage and evidence.
• Support architecture, requirements, technical baseline, integration, and customer reviews with clear technical analysis and documentation.
• Work across development, test, safety, and program teams to resolve cross-component issues and maintain a reusable platform baseline.

Benefits

• Three healthcare plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium 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 PTO 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.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral options, plus company match up to 4%.
• Equity included in most full-time, high-demand roles.

What This Job Offers

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