Autonomy Manufacturing Engineer: Prototyping to Production

Forterra; Clarksburg (MD); On-site; USD 115,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Paid time off (PTO)

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Forterra in Maryland is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to develop, validate, and optimize integration processes for autonomous vehicle systems—from prototype through full‑rate production. You’ll collaborate with design, systems, integration, and production teams to bring new solutions to life and ensure they’re built right, every time.

This role requires hands‑on problem solving, strong documentation skills, and the ability to lead continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (or related field).
• 3–6 years of hands-on experience in a manufacturing engineering role, ideally with exposure to both low‑volume prototyping and scalable production.
• Experience creating and maintaining detailed build documentation.
• Background in automotive, aerospace, robotics, or similar system‑level integration environments.
• Proven ability to design, iterate, and validate processes across mechanical and electrical domains.
• Excellent communication skills—you can translate engineering requirements into technician‑friendly instructions.
• Self‑starter with strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to work cross‑functionally in fast‑paced settings.
• Knowledgeable in using 8D problem solving to troubleshoot and solve complex technical problems.
• Solid understanding of mechanical and electrical assembly processes, including torque specs, fixturing, and connector systems.
• Proficiency with CAD (e.g., Inventor, SolidWorks, Creo) and documentation tools.

Responsibilities

• Act as the manufacturing liaison between engineering and production teams, ensuring a smooth transition from concept to repeatable builds.
• Provide hands‑on engineering support to troubleshoot and resolve technical problems in production.
• Create and maintain process documentation: work instructions, torque specs, visual aids, and build checklists. To include Process Flow Diagrams, PFMEAs, and Control Plans.
• Lead DFM/DFA reviews and provide actionable feedback to design and integration engineers.
• Support prototype builds and evolve them into production‑ready processes with clear documentation and quality controls.
• Improves manufacturing efficiency by analyzing and planning workflow, space requirements, and equipment layout. This includes driving product waste reductions.
• Lead continuous improvement activities as applicable.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Problem solving

Cross-functional teamwork

CAD software

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering

Tools

CAD (Inventor/SolidWorks/Creo)

Documentation tools

Job description

Forterra in Maryland is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to develop, validate, and optimize integration processes for autonomous vehicle systems—from prototype through full‑rate production. You’ll collaborate with design, systems, integration, and production teams to bring new solutions to life and ensure they’re built right, every time.

This role requires hands‑on problem solving, strong documentation skills, and the ability to lead continuous improvement.