Chief Engineer

Forterra; Clarksburg (MD); On-site; USD 175,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium Healthcare

PTO 20 days

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

401(k)

Job summary

Forterra is seeking a Chief Engineer to direct technical execution for complex defense autonomy programs within Emerging Technologies. This hands-on leadership role requires system-level thinking, deep technical judgment, and accountability from concept through integration and delivery.

The role interfaces directly with government customers and internal teams (Operations, Hardware, Core Software) to ensure a fully integrated, mission-capable system.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in systems integration, robotics, or autonomous vehicles.
• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional engineering teams in high-stakes environments.
• Ability to obtain a Secret clearance.
• Up to 25% travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Provide program technical leadership across software, hardware and systems integration.
• Coordinate lifecycle from concept through integration and delivery for autonomous vehicle platforms.
• Define and own architecture across software and hardware domains.
• Lead multiple engineering disciplines and manage technical risks.
• Interface with government customers, partners, and vendors on technical solutions and milestones.
• Ensure compliance with MIL‑STD‑882E, NIST 800‑53 and related standards.

Skills

Systems integration

Autonomy

Leadership

Cross-functional teams

Defense programs

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

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

The Emerging Technologies team at Forterra develops mission‑specific autonomous ground vehicle platforms spanning both the military and commercial vehicle applications. Our systems must be field‑ready, reliable, and compliant with safety, cybersecurity, and mission assurance standards. We work closely with government and commercial stakeholders to deliver high‑performance ground autonomy solutions for complex, real‑world environments.

We are seeking a Chief Engineer to direct technical execution for complex defense autonomy programs within Emerging Technologies, serving as the technical owner, architect, and engineering lead. This hands‑on leadership role carries full accountability for technical outcomes from concept through integration and delivery. The Technical Lead will interface directly with government customers, manage internal engineering execution, collaborate with all internal partners (Operations, Hardware, Core Software, etc.), and ensure delivery of a fully integrated, mission‑capable system.

This position is not a coordination role — it requires deep technical judgment, system‑level thinking, direct problem‑solving, hands‑on leadership of multidisciplinary teams, and decision‑making under pressure.

What you’ll do

• Program Technical Leadership
• Coordinate the software development lifecycle for integrated vehicle systems, ensuring robust, reliable autonomy and seamless subsystem interaction
• Define, manage, and own the logical and physical system architecture for the specific program across software and hardware domains
• Lead technical execution across multiple engineering disciplines (software, electrical, mechanical, autonomy, systems, and systems integration)
• Manage and mitigate technical and programmatic risks through proactive design and schedule control
• Own the engineering schedule and ensure alignment with overall program milestones and delivery dates
• Collaborate directly with defense customers, partners, and vendors to align on technical solutions and delivery milestones
• Lead development and decomposition of system requirements and interface definitions for the program
• Ensure compliance with program‑specific standards including MIL‑STD‑882E, NIST 800‑53, among others
• Oversee integration and commissioning of autonomous platforms and weapons payloads in field conditions
• Coordinate and be accountable for system‑level validation and verification campaigns, including test events and live demos
• Operate with full accountability, even in the absence of direct authority or guidance
• Resolve technical and organizational conflict across functions to maintain execution velocity
• Ruthlessly prioritize tasks and resources to maximize team output in a fluid environment
• Represent the program at technical reviews, demonstrations, and key stakeholder engagements
• Drive creation and management of all required engineering artifacts: systems requirements, interface control documents, cyber compliance packages, safety analyses, etc.
• Conduct or supervise integration, verification & validation, demonstration, and test in lab and field environments

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field (Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Software, Mechatronics, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or similar)
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in systems integration, robotics, or autonomous vehicles
• Demonstrated leadership of cross‑functional engineering teams in high‑stakes environments
• Strong background in autonomy, drive‑by‑wire systems, or closely related fields
• Ability to obtain a Secret clearance
• Up to 25% travel may be required

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ Years of experience in systems integration, robotics, or autonomous vehicles
• Experience working on robotics and autonomous systems for Department of Defense applications
• Experience in DoD acquisition programs or direct collaboration with military end‑users

Salary Range

US Salary Range: $175,000 – $235,000

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 considered part of Forterra’s overall compensation package.

In addition to base salary and equity, Forterra offers competitive benefits for full‑time employees:

• 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
• 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.

Equal Opportunity Employment

Forterra is an equal‑opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. All qualified applications will receive equal consideration for employment.