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Forterra

Perception Engineer - C++

Forterra

📍 Arlington, United States 🇺🇸

full-time
mid-level
145000
Posted —
Key Skills
C++ Linux Radar Git ROS2
Industry
Defense Robotics

Job 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.

The Forterra autonomy team seeks a Perception Engineer with a focus on advancing the use of 4D radar for autonomous operations. This includes everything from developing radar signal processing algorithms to supporting system integration and real-world testing. The Perception team partners closely with integration, testing, and R&D groups to design, validate, and deploy radar-based perception capabilities that strengthen Forterra’s autonomy stack. In addition to advancing radar algorithms and simulations, you will work on all aspects of the radar perception pipeline, from system-level integration and performance analysis to hardware-in-the-loop testing and cross-sensor collaboration. Experience across all these areas is not expected, but a willingness to learn and adapt is.

What You'll Do

  • Build the algorithms and software that transform 4D radar and other sensor data into actionable information for off-road autonomous operations.
  • Develop and maintain robust C++ software across the perception stack, including signal processing, detection, and tracking pipelines.
  • Support the integration and testing of radar perception systems on autonomous vehicles, including possible travel to company, government, and partner test sites.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with integration, R&D, and testing teams, as well as other autonomy groups such as navigation, sensor fusion, and behavior generation.
  • Prototype and evaluate new radar algorithms, and hardware-in-the-loop testing workflows.
  • Contribute to improving code quality, system reliability, and deployment efficiency across the perception team.

What We Need

  • BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or 4+ years of relevant professional experience
  • Minimum 2 years of experience in C++ development for real-time or high-performance applications
  • Strong proficiency in C++ and Linux OS, with familiarity in object-oriented programming design patterns
  • Hands-on experience with radar perception, radar systems engineering, or radar signal processing
  • Knowledge of radar concepts such as Doppler, clutter, interference, or tracking
  • Experience with modern development tools such as Git, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary engineering environment (integration, testing, hardware, and autonomy teams)

What We Love To See

  • Experience working with a variety of autonomy sensors such as EO/IR cameras, and LiDAR.
  • Hands-on experience with robotics or autonomous vehicles, in academic or industry settings
  • Experience with ROS2 (Robot Operating System) or native DDS development

US Salary Range

$145,000—$170,000

Benefits

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.

The Pay Range For This Role Is

145,000 - 170,000 USD per year (AVA)