Staff Software Safety Engineer — Defense

Position Overview

Forterra is a leading provider of autonomous systems for ground-based movement in the working world. As one of the earliest innovators in driverless technology, Forterra focuses on developing systems that protect front-line soldiers and empower civilian workers in our industrial base. We are seeking an experienced Safety Software Engineer to join our team to support the development of safety-critical software for defense and autonomous vehicle systems. In this role, you will apply structured safety processes to software-intensive systems and ensure that unmanned and autonomous ground platforms meet the rigorous standards required in both defense and automotive sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of safety-critical software standards across defense and autonomous vehicle programs
• Develop and refine safety concepts for ground vehicle systems, including architecture, redundancy mechanisms, fault management, and verification activities
• Conduct safety analyses such as FMEA, FHA, FTA, and DFA
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on validation and verification plans for unmanned and autonomous ground vehicles
• Support software integration and qualification testing to ensure safety requirements are met
• Mentor engineers on safety software principles, tools, and best practices
• Stay informed about evolving defense and autonomy standards to continuously improve practices

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field (Master’s preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in safety-critical software for defense or autonomous vehicle systems
• Experience with standards such as DO-178C, MIL-STD-882E, IEC 61508, or ISO 26262
• Familiarity with coding standards such as MISRA or SPARK Ada
• Proficiency in safety analysis techniques including FMEA, FHA, and FTA
• Hands-on experience with requirements management tools (DOORS, Polarion, Jama) and issue tracking systems (JIRA)
• Strong analytical skills in reliability, probability, and system safety modeling
• Experience supporting software verification and validation for autonomous ground platforms or secure embedded systems
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Fluency in safety-relevant programming languages such as C, C++, and Ada
• Familiarity with structured development methods such as Agile, V-Model, or MIL-STD/DoD software processes

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications such as CSP, CRE, or Functional Safety Expert (FuSa/ISO 26262)
• Knowledge of autonomous vehicle perception, prediction, and control safety challenges
• Understanding of secure-by-design principles and cyber-safety in defense and ground vehicle systems
• Direct experience in unmanned or autonomous ground vehicles for defense applications

Benefits & Perks

• Salary: $175,000 - $210,000 per year
• Premium Healthcare Benefits with three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan – Forterra covers 80% of the plan premium for you and your dependents
• Basic Life/AD&D and disability insurance plans fully covered by Forterra, with an option for additional life insurance
• A generous company holiday calendar including a winter break in December
• Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year
• At least 7 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birth or adoption
• A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with options for traditional, Roth, and after-tax deferral, plus a company match up to 4%