Perception Engineer at Forterra – Clarksburg, Maryland

About Forterra

Forterra is a leading provider of autonomous systems for ground-based movement in the working world. Amongst some of the earliest innovators in the field of driverless technology, Forterra is focused on building systems that protect front-line soldiers and enable civilian workers in our industrial base. Forterra is the go-to provider of ground autonomy solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense, which harnesses the technology for asymmetric warfare in critical conditions.

About The Role

We are seeking talented and motivated Perception Engineers to join our growing autonomy team. In this role, you will contribute across the perception software stack, specifically by integrating and maintaining scalable, maintainable C++ and Python code. You will also play a key role in supporting the deployment and testing of perception systems on both simulated and real vehicles.

This is an ideal role for engineers who enjoy bridging software development with hands-on testing, and who thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

What You'll Do

• Develop and maintain robust C++ and Python software across the perception stack
• Support the integration and testing of perception systems on autonomous vehicles, including travel to company, government, and partner test sites
• Collaborate cross-functionally with other autonomy and systems engineering teams including navigation, behavior generation, data and ML Ops, and hardware.
• Contribute to improving code quality, system reliability, and deployment efficiency

What We're Looking For:

• Mission-First Mindset - We put the needs of the mission and our customers first and understand that the US and its allies have no preordained right to victory in any future conflict.
• Ownership Mentality - We’re looking for owners; those who have a natural bias to assume responsibility, a healthy dose of skepticism, and contribute to a culture of performance.
• Technical Aptitude and Intellectual Curiosity - We are first and foremost a technology company, working at the leading edge of capabilities like machine learning, autonomy, distributed networking, and multimodal sensor fusion.
• Structured Thinker and Problem Solver - Building complex autonomous systems requires clear communication and well-thought-out plans. A solution-driven approach, the ability to distill complexity into its essential, digestible components, and the ability to execute are critical to ensure mission success.
• Optimism - We always identify paths to success and are focused on the "can" not the "can't." Successful team members work collaboratively and positively with each other, as part of a holistic team, to find success in challenging scenarios.

Minimum Qualificaitons:

• BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field, or 4+ years of relevant professional experience
• Minimum 2 years of experience in C++ and Python development
• Strong proficiency in C++ and Linux OS, with familiarity in object-oriented programming design patterns
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD tools and pipelines
• Familiarity with Docker, Git, or other modern development tools
• Proficiency in scripting and automation with Python and Bash

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with autonomy sensors such as EO/IR cameras, LiDAR, and RADAR
• Hands-on experience with robotics or autonomous vehicles, in academic or industry settings
• Familiarity with TensorRT and other deep learning GPU acceleration frameworks
• Experience with ROS2 (Robot Operating System) or native DDS development

US Salary Range
$130,000—$180,000

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%.

Your recruiter will be able to share more information about our salary and benefits offering during the hiring process.

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.