About Forterra
At Forterra, we are unleashing autonomy at scale to transform the battlefield. Our mission is to build the foundational platforms that enable an intelligent ecosystem to coordinate, adapt, and execute with speed and precision even in the uncertainty and disruption of modern conflict. In an era marked by rapid technological change and evolving threats, we design for flexibility, survivability, and operational dominance.

Forterra delivers weapons, sensors, and battlefield effects through integrated autonomous networks reaching operational areas faster, safer, and without placing human lives at risk. Our systems operate with distributed control, dynamic routing, and real-time responsiveness, enabling sustained advantage across complex mission environments.

About the role

Forterra is building a new generation of mission module capabilities for autonomous ground systems— integrating high-impact payloads like Counter-UAS, fire-control, combat engineering, and advanced ISR into a scalable platform architecture. We’re looking for a highly capable Electrical Engineer with experience designing, integrating, and validating complex electrical and networking systems, especially within open architecture frameworks such as the U.S. Army Interoperability Profile (IOP).

You’ll play a critical role in ensuring that mission payloads interface reliably and safely with our autonomy stack, power systems, and tactical networks. This is a hands-on role where you’ll collaborate closely with autonomy, software, systems, and mechanical teams, government stakeholders, and third-party subsystem providers to drive safety-critical and warfighter-relevant outcomes.

What you'll do

• Design and integrate power distribution, communications, signal routing, and compute infrastructure for mission payloads, including kinetic effectors, RF systems, sensors, and fire-control modules

• Architect modular, standards-compliant interfaces using open frameworks like IOP, VICTORY, J1939, and ensure conformance with MIL-STD-1275, MIL-STD-464, MIL-STD-461, and MIL-STD-882E

• Develop and validate electrical artifacts such as interface control documents (ICDs), wiring diagrams, and harness documentation

• Support hands-on system integration, bring-up, and testing across lab and field environments, including EMI/EMC validation and battlefield failure mode protection.

• Design and develop custom PCBs and electrical subsystems

• Collaborate with government stakeholders and third-party subsystem providers to align requirements, validate performance, and support operational testing and deployment. Provide ongoing troubleshooting, qualification, and user-centric support for fielded and production systems

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, or Electrical/Computer Engineering

• 5+ years of experience in electrical engineering for defense, robotics, or autonomous platforms

• Experience in autonomous or robotic systems for DoD use

• Experience in rapid prototyping and iterative development, including bench-top testing and debugging

• Strong understanding of open systems architecture standards (IOP, VICTORY, J1939) and modular integration best-practices

• Experience design and integrating system-on-modules, embedded controllers, and/or network-based devices

• Proficiency with design and interfacing with Ethernet, Automotive Ethernet, CAN, USB and/or serial-based protocols/payloads

• Working knowledge of power budgeting, MIL-STD-1275 compliance, and vehicle-based DC distribution (12V–48V)

• Hands-on experience with RF integration and EMI/EMC compliance to MIL-STD-464 and MIL-STD-461

• Experience developing custom PCBs using Altium

• Experience with design electrical harness (MIL-STD, Automotive, SAE, IPC/WHMA)

• Competency in sensor and camera system integration as well as video transport standards

• Exposure to MIL-STD-810 or similar environmental qualification standards

• U.S. Persons and eligibility for a security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with platform power management strategies, including load shedding, battery management (BMS), and redundant architectures

• Experience collaborating with defense primes or integrators and developing supporting documentation (ICDs, test procedures, verification reports)

• Familiarity with MIL-STD-882E and safety-critical electrical design principles

• Proven history working with Fire control systems and other Mission Critical systems IAW with DOD standards (MIL-STD-882E, WSESRB, FUZE)

• Knowledge of NATO STANAGs related to vehicle and payload interoperability

• Support experience for live-fire exercises, test events, or operational demos of integrated weapon systems

• Proficiency in simulation and analysis tools (e.g., SPICE, MATLAB/Simulink) for EMI/EMC modeling or circuit validation

• Familiarity with CAN diagnostic tools (Vector, CANalyzer, SavvyCAN)

US Salary Range
$130,000—$145,000

The salary range for this role is an estimate and is based on a wide variety of compensation factors. The salary offered to candidates will vary based on a variety of factors including (but not limited to) relevant work experience, education, specialized training, critical expertise, training, and more. Equity in Forterra is included in most of our full-time, high-demand roles and is therefore considered part of Forterra’s overall compensation package. In addition to base salary and equity, Forterra offers competitive benefits for full-time employees including:

• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium for you and your dependents.
• Basic Life/AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance plans 100% covered by Forterra, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a winter break in December.
• Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year.
• A minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth/adoption.
• A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators with all the Celsius your little heart desires.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral with company match up to 4%.

Your recruiter will be able to share more information about our salary and benefits offering during the hiring process.

Forterra is an equal-opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. Forterrans are unique, talented individuals who are united through a shared passion to deliver autonomous systems that enable national resilience and a robust supply chain. All qualified applications will receive equal consideration for employment.