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 is seeking an experienced Safety Assurance Engineer to join our team and strengthen the safety assurance foundation for autonomous systems. This role will focus on developing safety case frameworks, tracking safety evidence, and ensuring consistent application of system safety processes across commercial programs. 

What You'll Do 

• Lead the development, execution, and maintenance of Forterra’s Commercial Safety Case Framework
• Oversee and support the development of safety case evidence across all domains and disciplines (e.g., Systems, Safety, Autonomy, Test, Simulation, Manufacturing, Operations)
• Define, develop, and maintain Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs) to measure safety case objectives and provide traceability to safety claims
• Create and refine reusable templates, guidelines, and checklists to drive consistent system safety practices across commercial programs
• Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship on system safety principles, tools, and practices
• Facilitate system safety reviews, audits, and assessments, ensuring findings are captured, tracked, and resolved
• Engage with third-party certification bodies and regulatory agencies to secure approvals and demonstrate compliance
• Define and apply applicable safety standards to Forterra products and platforms
• Monitor and interpret relevant system safety standards and regulations, incorporating updates into organizational processes

Minimum Qualifications 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Systems / Electrical / Electronic / Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field; Masters degree preferred 
• 5+ years of work experience in system safety engineering or assurance-focused role 
• Direct experience applying automotive/AV safety standards such as ISO 26262 (functional safety), ISO 21448 (SOTIF), or UL 4600 (AV safety assurance)
• Experience developing safety cases and managing evidence for compliance with system safety standards
• Technical domain knowledge of autonomous vehicles or similar autonomous robotic systems 
• Expertise with safety analysis techniques such as FMEA, FTA, FMEDA, STPA
• Expertise in safety requirement authorship such as functional safety requirements, technical safety requirements, hardware and software safety requirements 
• Experience leading or supporting internal system safety audits, reviews, or assessments 
• Strong communication skills and the ability to communicate complex engineering issues to a diverse team 
• Flexible, adaptable mindset, open-minded: we try to solve a problem that has never been solved before
• Experience in creating structured documentation and templates to support scalable system safety 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Functional Safety Certification (automotive or other) 
• Experience conducting safety audits, assessments, or certifications related to autonomous or automotive safety-critical systems
• Direct experience in the design and development of autonomous vehicles or advanced ADAS applications
• Demonstrated ability to influence safety culture and process adoption across diverse engineering teams 
• Strong Safety Engineering fundamentals and knowledge of modern safety engineering techniques, tools, processes and practices

US Salary Range
 $140,000—$175,000 / annually

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.

CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY - This position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. For more information about U.S. Security Clearances: click here.   

Forterra is an equal-opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in all personnel practices. 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 applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any factor, including veteran and disability status, and criminal history, in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

Forterra is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

To see Forterra’s candidate data privacy policy, please visit Forterra Legal | Job Applicant Privacy Notice.