Lead Autonomy Software Engineer

NightDragon Acquisition Corp.; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium Healthcare Benefits

401(k) retirement savings plan

20 days paid time off

7 weeks parental leave

$9,000 annual tuition reimbursement

Job summary

NightDragon Acquisition Corp. is looking for a Chief Engineer to lead technical execution for complex defense autonomy programs. This hands-on role requires integrating and deploying autonomy systems, working closely with customers and stakeholders. Candidates should have a B.S. in a relevant field and strong programming skills in C++, Python, or Java. The position offers a competitive salary range of $120,000 to $250,000 and includes premium healthcare, generous PTO, and a 401(k) retirement savings plan.

Qualifications

• 3 or more years of relevant experience.
• Experience integrating software on hardware products.
• Ability to consistently deliver production-quality software in a continuously integrated environment.

Responsibilities

• Direct technical execution for complex defense autonomy programs.
• Integrate and deploy autonomy stack on customer-bound hardware.
• Analyze test results and drive problems to resolution.

Skills

C++

Python

Java

Software design

Unit testing

Debugging

Algorithms

Data structures

Software documentation

Education

B.S. in computer science, engineering, robotics, or related field

Job description

About Forterra

The Emerging Technologies team at Forterra develops mission‑specific, autonomous ground vehicle platforms spanning both 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.

Chief Engineer

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

• Bring autonomy into real operations: Integrate and deploy our autonomy stack on customer‑bound hardware platforms and validate it in real‑world conditions.
• Build with users and stakeholders: Work across the organization and directly with end‑users to deliver new behaviors, payload integrations, and emerging mission use‑cases.
• Optimize the full system: Take a holistic view of autonomous vehicle behavior—how sensing, compute, controls, and other subsystems interact—and drive overall performance improvements.
• Close the loop from test to deploy: Analyze test results, identify issues and root causes, and collaborate with engineering teams to drive problems to resolution.
• Improve the core autonomy stack: Detect performance shortfalls, shape solution approaches, and implement enhancements in partnership with cross‑functional teams.
• Connect product needs to R&D execution: Partner across business development and engineering teams to translate customer requirements into delivered autonomy capabilities.
• Travel: Travel ranging from 10–25% to 25–50% depending on candidate preference and role placement; ability to commute to Arlington, VA as needed.

Qualifications

• 3 or more years of relevant experience.
• B.S. in computer science, engineering, robotics, or related field, or relevant experience/shown skill.
• Experience integrating software on hardware products.
• Strong programming skills in C++, Python, or Java.
• Solid core software engineering skills: software design, unit testing, debugging.
• Ability to consistently deliver production‑quality software in a continuously integrated environment.
• Strong understanding of algorithms, data structures, and software design principles.
• Demonstrates clean, maintainable code and documentation practices.
• Experience working in teams and willingness to proactively solve problems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing software for robotics and autonomous systems.
• Knowledge of safety‑critical systems (e.g., MIL‑STD‑882, ISO‑26262, DO‑178).
• Experience with ROS2.
• Experience with state machines and motion/path planning.
• Knowledge of navigation, mapping algorithms, and robot perception.
• Familiarity with real‑time operating systems and embedded programming.
• Leadership experience on cross‑functional software teams.

US Salary Range

120,000–250,000

Benefits

• 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 $9,000 annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after‑tax deferral with company match up to 4%.

EEO Statement

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.