Chief Engineer

About the Company

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.

Responsibilities

• Direct technical execution for complex defense autonomy programs as the technical owner and architect
• Coordinate the software development lifecycle for integrated vehicle systems
• Define and manage logical and physical system architecture across software and hardware domains
• Lead technical execution across software, electrical, mechanical, autonomy, and systems engineering
• Manage and mitigate technical and programmatic risks
• Lead development and decomposition of system requirements and interface definitions
• Ensure compliance with standards including MIL-STD-882E and NIST 800-53
• Oversee integration and commissioning of autonomous platforms and weapons payloads in field conditions
• Coordinate system-level validation and verification campaigns, including test events and live demos
• Drive creation of engineering artifacts such as interface control documents and safety analyses

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Software, Mechatronics, Robotics, or Aerospace)
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in systems integration, robotics, or autonomous vehicles
• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional engineering teams
• Strong background in autonomy or drive-by-wire systems
• Ability to obtain a Secret clearance
• Ability to travel up to 25%

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D.) in engineering
• 10+ years of experience in systems integration, robotics, or autonomous vehicles
• Experience with Department of Defense applications
• Experience in DoD acquisition programs or military end-user collaboration

Benefits

• Premium Healthcare Benefits with 80% premium coverage
• Basic Life/AD&D and disability insurance covered by Forterra
• Generous company holiday calendar including winter break
• 20 days of accrued PTO per year
• Minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave
• $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend
• 401(k) with company match up to 4%