Description

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

Forterra's Navigation team is seeking an experienced C++ Engineer with localization experience to help build and optimize the core autonomy stack for our autonomous ground vehicle systems. You will design, implement, and maintain high-performance C++ software modules as part of the Localization team, collaborating closely with perception, behavior generation, and platform teams. This is an ideal role for someone passionate about developing efficient, reliable, and field-proven autonomy software that operates at the intersection of robotics, estimation, and large-scale systems integration.

What you'll do

• Develop, optimize, and maintain C++ components supporting Forterra's navigation stack, including localization and state estimation subsystems.

• Implement unit and integration tests, participate in code reviews, and maintain high standards of software quality and documentation.

• Integrate and synchronize data from LiDAR, radar, cameras, GNSS, and IMUs for robust navigation across varied terrain and conditions.

• Develop supporting middleware, diagnostics, and replay tools for testing and validation of navigation algorithms.

• Evaluate and validate navigation performance through simulation, playback, and field testing.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with autonomy, perception, and platform engineers to ensure smooth integration and real-time performance across vehicle systems.

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related engineering field.

• 3+ years of work experience in the software engineering field with strong experience in C++ programming

• Strong proficiency in modern C++ and object-oriented design principles.

• Ability to consistently deliver production-quality software in a continuously integrated environment.

• Strong debugging, profiling, and software optimization skills in Linux-based development environments.

• Familiarity with middleware and communication frameworks such as ROS, DDS, or custom messaging systems.

• U.S. Persons

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with real-time or embedded systems for autonomous vehicles or robotics.

• Experience developing and optimizing localization algorithms.

• Familiarity with data logging, replay, and visualization tools (e.g., Foxglove, RViz).

• Experience developing for large-scale autonomy software frameworks or distributed systems.

• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automated testing.

US Salary Range
$125,000$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.

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