Software Integration Engineer - Data and Network Software

Front Door Defense; Clarksburg (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium Healthcare Benefits

20 days PTO

7 weeks parental leave

Tuition reimbursement $9k

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Forterra is seeking a Software Integration Engineer - Data and Network to own and stabilize the field data pipeline across program sites with remote support. This in-office role places you with field teams, ensuring data flows, diagnosing issues, and keeping operators running.

You will travel 25-33% annually, provide Level 2 remote support, write Python scripts, and collaborate with engineering on enhancements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Strong networking fundamentals with configuration, troubleshooting, and routing knowledge.
• Proficiency in Linux and command-line debugging.
• Able to read/write Python for scripting and troubleshooting.
• Clear communicator who can guide non-experts remotely.
• Willingness to travel to program sites 25–33% on average.
• Interest in collaborating with agentic AI to achieve goals.

Responsibilities

• Own the health of the field data pipeline, monitor data capture and uploads, diagnose failures, and resolve remotely.
• Provide Level 2 remote support to Level 1 on-site staff and program teams across field systems.
• Debug the stack (Linux, networking, data and comms tooling) and coordinate the right engineering owner.
• Read/write Python to inspect, patch, and improve support scripts.
• Document recurring problems and fixes for on-site staff to self-serve.
• Travel to program sites for on-site support ~25–33% annually; contribute to software development when idle.

Skills

Networking fundamentals

Linux basics

Python scripting

Clear communication

Travel willing

AI collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical field

Tools

DevOps

CI/CD

Containers

Monitoring/Alerting

Job description

Software Integration Engineer - Data and Network

Own and stabilize the field data pipeline across program sites with remote support.

Location: Clarksburg, Maryland

Compensation: $120,000 - 200,000 USD / year

About The Role

Job Title

Job Description

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

This is an in-office position. The teams you support are in the field — deployed at program sites, operating our systems and moving data. You are their remote lifeline: when data stops flowing, a field network won't come up, an operator station misbehaves, or a box needs debugging, you resolve it from the office so program staff and the field teams don't have to travel to fix it. You are the Level 2 escalation behind our Level 1 on-site support, and when the support queue is quiet you contribute to general software development. We have a strong preference for an in-person, in-office candidate, though remote may be considered for the right person. Depending on the program you'll also step into Level 1 on-site support — expect roughly 25-33% travel averaged across the year.

What You'll Do

• Own the health of our field data pipeline — monitor that data is being captured and uploaded from program sites, diagnose failures, and drive them to resolution remotely.
• Provide Level 2 remote support to Level 1 on-site staff and to program teams on the ground across several field-facing systems: field networking (setup, configuration, mesh/tactical networks), operator control stations, and message-transport systems that connect operators to deployed systems.
• Debug issues across the stack — Linux systems, networking, and our data and comms tooling — and either fix them directly or coordinate the right engineering owner.
• Read and write Python to inspect, patch, and improve support and automation scripts that keep field infrastructure running.
• Document recurring problems and fixes so on-site (Level 1) staff can self-serve, reducing the need for anyone to travel to a site to keep systems running.
• Travel to program sites to provide hands-on Level 1 support when a program needs it — roughly 25-33% of the time, averaged over the year. Contribute to general software development when the support queue is light — tooling, automation, and features that improve the systems above.
• Act as a utility player: flex onto adjacent software and infrastructure tasks as team needs shift.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Solid networking fundamentals — able to configure IP addressing, DNS, DHCP, routing/switching, VLANs, and VPNs, and troubleshoot a network from the ground up. Bonus points if you understand how these are implemented and work under the hood.
• Comfortable with Linux and basic command-line debugging (logs, services, processes, connectivity).
• Able to read and write Python for scripting and troubleshooting. Strong attention to detail and a methodical, follow-through approach to problems.
• Clear communicator who can guide non-experts through steps remotely.
• Willing to travel to program sites for on-site support — roughly 25-33% on average.
• A strong willingness to work with agentic AI to accomplish your goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting deployed/field systems or remote sites.
• Familiarity with data pipelines, upload workflows, or large-file data movement. Experience with field/tactical networking — mesh radios, unreliable links, NAT/gateways.
• Exposure to DevOps practices — CI/CD, containers, config management, monitoring/alerting.
• Some C/C++ is a bonus — helpful for going deeper on our systems over time, but not required to start. Scripting beyond Python (Bash) and comfort with cloud or on-prem storage.
• Prior help-desk, IT, field-service, or Tier-2 support experience.
• Interest in robotics/autonomy and working alongside field-deployment teams.

US Salary Range $120,000—$200,000

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%.

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.