Senior System Test Engineer

Forterra Inc.; Clarksburg (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium Healthcare Benefits

Generous paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

401(k) retirement savings plan

Parental leave

Job summary

A leading technology company in Clarksburg, MD, is seeking a System Test Engineer focused on validating autonomous ground systems used in various environments. The role entails designing and executing test plans, ensuring safety and performance, and working closely with cross-functional teams. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, 5+ years of relevant experience, and good communication skills. The position offers a competitive salary range of $110,000—$140,000 annually and excellent benefits including healthcare, PTO, and tuition reimbursement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in system test, validation, integration, or V&V roles.
• Experience with automotive and defense safety standards such as ISO 26262.
• Hands-on experience testing, troubleshooting hardware or software systems.

Responsibilities

• Own vehicle-level test strategy for autonomy features and safety-critical functions.
• Design and execute comprehensive test plans.
• Analyze results and perform root cause analysis.

Skills

System-level testing

Troubleshooting hardware/software

Communication skills

Customer-focused mindset

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or a related field

Tools

CI/CD pipelines

Automated test frameworks

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

Forterra builds autonomous ground systems that operate in the real world: industrial sites, logistics yards, and contested environments. Our systems must work every time, under uncertainty, and with real consequences.

The Product Validation team exists to answer one question: "Is this system safe, reliable, and ready for real‑world missions?"

We validate autonomous vehicles across simulation, hardware‑in‑the‑loop benches, and live vehicle testing to reduce risk, expose failure modes early, and ensure mission success for both commercial and DoD customers. As a System Test Engineer you will play a critical role in ensuring the functional safety, reliability, and performance of autonomous vehicle subsystems. Your primary focus will be on designing, executing, and maintaining comprehensive test plans for critical vehicle functions, including emergency stop systems, autonomous navigation, sensor fusion, and control logic.

This is an on‑site role requiring hands‑on exposure to cutting edge technology and real‑world environments.

What you’ll do

• Own vehicle‑level test strategy for autonomy features and safety‑critical functions
• Translate system requirements and user journeys into structured test plans and scenario matrices
• Identify operational edge cases and risk‑driven test permutations
• Design and source custom test interfaces, instrumentation, and tooling as needed
• Execute and oversee testing across simulation, benches, and real vehicles
• Analyze results, perform root cause analysis, and clearly communicate risk and readiness
• Write scripts and tools to monitor metrics, automate checks, and accelerate debugging
• Partner with Systems, Software, Hardware, and Safety to define V&V strategy
• Provide testability feedback during design and requirement reviewsRepresent Product Validation in program milestones and readiness discussions

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in system test, validation, integration, or V&V roles
• Hands‑on experience testing, troubleshooting hardware or software systems
• Customer‑focused mindset and sense of quality
• Proven experience designing and executing system‑level tests
• Experience analyzing complex failures across hardware, software, and integration boundaries
• Working knowledge of autonomous or complex cyber‑physical systems
• Candidate should be a flexible team player with good oral and written communication skills, and able to work effectively in a very fast‑paced environment with team members from many different disciplines
• Willingness to travel for testing and field support (up to ~25%)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with automotive and defense safety standards such as ISO 26262 and/or MIL‑STD882E
• Experience working on DoD programs
• Working understanding of autonomous system architectures including perception, planning, and control subsystems
• Understanding of automotive electronics and a familiarity with communication protocols such as Ethernet, CAN, and LIN
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, data pipelines, or automated test frameworks

US Salary Range

$110,000—$140,000 / annually

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.

CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY - This position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

For more information about U.S. Security Clearances: click here .

Forterra is an equal‑opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in all personnel practices. 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 applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any factor, including veteran and disability status, and criminal history, in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

Forterra is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.