Test Engineer

Forterra • Clarksburg, MD

2d • $90,000 - $130,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Forterra is seeking a hands-on Electrical Engineer to join its Core Product team in Clarksburg, Maryland. The role works with a small engineering team to test and help develop automated tests for autonomous systems used in military and commercial vehicles. It combines hardware validation and test automation with electrical design, debugging, fixture development, and ECAD design infrastructure. The position is hybrid and may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Requirements

• Strong experience in hardware validation and automated test development.
• Hands-on experience designing test fixtures, hardware test adapters, or validation systems.
• Deep familiarity with hardware debugging and laboratory instrumentation.
• Strong understanding of design-for-test and validation methodologies.
• Ability to work across hardware, firmware, and manufacturing teams to build scalable test infrastructure.
• Basic knowledge of networking configurations and protocols.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to debug complex mixed hardware/software issues.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing automated hardware test systems using Python, Boundary Scan, or similar frameworks.
• Experience designing test fixtures, bed-of-nails systems, or hardware interface boards.
• Experience with automotive, defense, or high-reliability hardware systems.
• Familiarity with networking hardware, embedded systems, or robotics platforms.
• Exposure to signal integrity or power integrity analysis.
• Familiarity with ISO 26262, MIL-STD, or other reliability standards.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement hardware validation strategies for boards and subsystems used in autonomous vehicle platforms.
• Develop automated hardware test systems for engineering validation, regression testing, and manufacturing screening.
• Design and build custom test fixtures, harnesses, and interface boards for board-level and subsystem testing.
• Develop automated test scripts and frameworks for hardware interfaces such as Ethernet, CAN, SPI, I2C, and power systems.
• Work with firmware and software teams to integrate automated test infrastructure into development and CI workflows.
• Define test plans, test coverage, and validation methodologies across prototype, EVT/DVT, and production phases.
• Implement data collection and analysis frameworks to monitor performance, reliability, and regression trends.
• Support manufacturing teams with production test strategies and bring-up procedures.
• Design and develop digital and analog circuits for embedded systems, networking hardware, and power subsystems.
• Perform schematic capture and collaborate with PCB layout engineers during board implementation.
• Lead board bring-up and hardware debugging using lab instrumentation, including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and power analyzers.
• Perform root cause analysis of hardware issues identified during validation and field testing.
• Support prototype builds and drive hardware validation throughout the development lifecycle.
• Generate technical documentation, including schematics, test plans, validation reports, and debugging notes.
• Develop test interface boards, harnesses, and hardware fixtures for efficient validation and production testing.
• Develop bed-of-nails fixtures, debug adapters, and instrumentation interfaces where required.
• Collaborate with mechanical and manufacturing teams to make test fixtures robust, repeatable, and scalable.
• Ensure test infrastructure supports high coverage, repeatability, and efficient troubleshooting.
• Develop, maintain, and release schematics and PCB designs using Altium Designer or an equivalent tool.
• Review PCB designs for signal integrity, power integrity, grounding, and design-for-test considerations.
• Contribute to design-for-test practices that improve validation and production screening.
• Work with manufacturing and PLM teams to ensure accurate design releases.

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 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 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, and after-tax deferral options and company matching up to 4%.
• Stocked beverage refrigerators.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed