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.

The Forterra Test team is seeking a Hardware Test Engineer with a focus on component and module testing. The Hardware Test Engineer is responsible for ensuring our new hardware designs meet Forterra's design requirements.

Forterra is a fast-growing company expanding our autonomy solution across multiple vehicle platforms.

The Hardware Test Engineer role will specify testing to comply with regulations and standards, but will also need to understand when the standards are not applicable or are insufficient to ensure success in our expanding use-cases


What You'll Do

• Develop and document test procedures to validate hardware requirements at both the module and kit level.
• Identify and procure necessary hardware and software resources for test execution, including designing or sourcing custom test interfaces as needed.
• Execute test procedures, ensuring accurate data collection and thorough documentation of results and observations.
• Conduct hardware validation and design qualification through structured analysis and hands-on testing in a HIL environment.
• Generate detailed test reports, summarize findings, and raise defect tickets for issue tracking and resolution by relevant teams.
• Provide regular updates on project status, test progress, and timelines to ensure alignment with program milestones.
• Participate in hardware design reviews, offering testability and verification feedback to improve design robustness.
• Engage in requirement reviews to assess test feasibility and contribute to the definition of verifiable, measurable hardware requirements.
• Adapt and refine test strategies to ensure compatibility with the application’s operational conditions and performance targets.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Engineering with at least 2 years performing hardware testing
• Experience performing hardware in the loop (HIL) testing (e.g. dSPACE, NI VeriStand, Vector VT System, Speedgoat, Simulink Real-Time)
• Understanding of automotive electronics and a familiarity with communication protocols such as Ethernet, CAN, and LIN.
• Experience with LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB and/or other programming languages suitable for data collection and analysis
• Familiarity using CI/CD tools (e.g. GitLab, Jenkin)
• Solid understanding of Ethernet and socket programming (e.g. TCP/IP, UDP, HTTP)
• Working understanding of command-line Linux.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, hands-on abilities, and working knowledge of common test equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, electric load, current sensors, signal generators, and spectrum analyzers)
• 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
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time for testing and/or other events

Preferred Qualifications

• Solid understanding of electrical and mechanical engineering fundamentals.
• Experience with automotive and defense safety standards such as ISO 26262 and/or MIL-STD882E.
• The ability to communicate complex ideas efficiently.
• Customer-focused mindset and sense of quality.
• Proven success individually and in team environments.
• Subject matter expertise in their field.

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with designing and building test cables
• Experience fabricating or 3D printing test fixtures

US Salary Range
 $130,000—$170,000
 

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, Legal & ID protection 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.

Job Details

What location will this position be based out of?
ARC
What amount of travel is required for this position? (remember, 25% travel assumes the person is traveling 1 week a month).
< 10% 

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.