Electrical Engineer - Vehicle Systems Forterra is looking for a hands-on Electrical Engineer to join the Emerging Tech team in Clarksburg, MD. You will be responsible for designing and building the electrical systems that turn conventional vehicles into autonomous platforms, with a primary focus on drive-by-wire integration. Your week will split between the bench and the vehicle bay. Some days you will be at a workstation designing wire harness schematics, selecting connectors, and specifying actuator power requirements. Other days you will be under a hood routing harnesses, terminating connectors, commissioning CAN bus networks, and validating that your I/O intercept systems behave correctly when the vehicle is running. The work is tangible: you will see your designs go from schematic to installed hardware within the same sprint. This role sits at the center of Forterra's vehicle integration effort. The electrical systems you build are what allow our autonomy software to physically control steering, throttle, braking, and transmission on platforms that were never designed for it. Getting this right is essential to everything downstream.
What You'll Do:- Design and build vehicle interface wire harnesses that power actuators for steering, throttle, braking, and transmission control
- Develop I/O intercept systems that interface between Forterra's autonomy hardware and the existing vehicle electrical architecture
- Route, terminate, and validate harness assemblies on vehicle platforms, ensuring reliable operation under vibration, temperature extremes, and field conditions
- Create and maintain wiring diagrams, pinout documentation, and harness build specificationsCAN Bus & Vehicle Communications
- Integrate CAN bus networks to distribute commands between Forterra's compute systems and vehicle actuators
- Decode, monitor, and troubleshoot CAN traffic to validate command and feedback paths
- Interface with OEM vehicle CAN networks, identifying and mapping signals required for autonomous control
- Power Systems & Distribution
- Design power distribution systems that supply Forterra's compute, sensor, and actuator hardware from vehicle electrical systems
- Specify fusing, relay logic, and voltage regulation for added electrical loads without degrading vehicle reliability
- Troubleshoot power quality issues including ground loops, voltage drops, and EMI from actuator switching
- Vehicle Integration & Testing
- Support hands-on integration of electrical systems on vehicle platforms in the Clarksburg shop
- Develop and execute test procedures for harness continuity, insulation resistance, CAN communication, and actuator response
- Diagnose and resolve electrical issues during vehicle integration and initial drive testing
- Collaborate with mechanical, software, and systems engineers to ensure electrical designs meet packaging, thermal, and functional requirements
What We're Looking For:
Hands-On Builder - You are most productive when you can go from schematic to physical harness to installed system in the same week. You don't need a detailed work order for every task. You see what needs to happen next, grab the tools, and build it. At Forterra, the distance between design and hardware is short, and we need engineers who thrive in that environment. Vehicle-Systems Thinker - You understand that a wire harness doesn't exist in isolation. It connects to actuators that move real steering columns, throttle bodies, and brake systems on vehicles that weigh thousands of pounds and operate in unpredictable conditions. You think about the full signal chain, from the software command through the CAN bus through the connector through the actuator, and you troubleshoot with that whole picture in mind. Comfortable with Ambiguity - We are integrating drive-by-wire on vehicle platforms that were never designed for it. There is no integration manual. You will need to reverse-engineer OEM electrical systems, figure out what signals to intercept, and design solutions that work reliably without full manufacturer documentation. If that sounds exciting rather than frustrating, this is the right role. Rigorous Where It Counts - When you terminate a connector or commission a CAN network, you do it right. You check your work. You label your wires. You document your pinouts. Sloppy electrical work on an autonomous vehicle is a safety issue, and you bring the discipline to make sure what you build is trustworthy. Mission-Driven - The systems you build will operate in real missions supporting national defense. You care about that outcome and hold yourself to the standard it demands. You don't cut corners because the work matters.
Minimum Qualifications:- 3+ years of experience in electrical engineering, vehicle electrical systems, or electromechanical integration
- Hands-on experience designing and building wire harnesses for vehicles, mobile equipment, or ruggedized systems
- Working knowledge of CAN bus protocols (J1939, OBD-II, or proprietary CAN) including message decoding and network troubleshooting
- Experience with power distribution design for 12V/24V vehicle electrical systems
- Proficiency with electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and standard EE tools (multimeters, oscilloscopes, CAN analyzers)
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent hands-on experience
- Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen or permanent resident)
- Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance (Secret or higher)
Preferred Qualifications:- Experience with drive-by-wire systems, actuator control, or by-wire conversion of conventional vehicles
- Familiarity with automotive ECUs, vehicle gateway modules, and OEM diagnostic tools
- Experience with EMI/EMC considerations for vehicle electrical systemsPCB design experience (KiCad, Altium, or similar) for interface boards or breakout boards
- DoD, military, or defense industry experience
- Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or higher)
Experience working in rapid-prototype or hardware startup environmentsUS Salary Range $120,000—$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 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:120,000 - 170,000 USD per year (ARC)
