# Chief Engineer

**Company:** [Forterra](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/forterra)
**Location:** Arlington, VA
**Role:** Engineering Management
**Salary:** $175k – $235k/yr
**Experience:** 5+ years
**Skills:** Autonomous Vehicles, Systems Integration, Robotics, Systems Architecture, Software Development Lifecycle, Mil-Std-882E, Nist 800-53, Drive-By-Wire Systems, Cybersecurity, Systems Engineering
**Posted:** 2026-02-07

> Leads technical execution for defense autonomy programs on autonomous ground vehicles, owning system architecture, integration across engineering disciplines, risk management, and delivery to government customers. Requires 5+ years in robotics/systems integration and bachelor's in engineering.

## Job Description

## What You'll Do

### Program Technical Leadership
- Coordinate the software development lifecycle for integrated vehicle systems
- Define, manage, and own logical and physical system architecture across software and hardware
- Lead technical execution across software, electrical, mechanical, autonomy, systems, and integration
- Manage and mitigate technical and programmatic risks
- Own engineering schedule and alignment with program milestones
- Collaborate with defense customers, partners, and vendors

### Systems Engineering & Integration
- Lead system requirements decomposition and interface definitions
- Ensure compliance with standards like MIL-STD-882E, NIST 800-53
- Oversee integration and commissioning of autonomous platforms and weapons payloads
- Coordinate system-level validation, verification, tests, and demos

### Cross-Functional Influence
- Operate with full accountability without direct authority
- Resolve technical and organizational conflicts
- Ruthlessly prioritize tasks and resources
- Represent program at technical reviews and stakeholder engagements

### Artifact & Compliance Management
- Drive creation of engineering artifacts: requirements, interface documents, compliance packages
- Conduct/supervise integration, verification, validation, and testing

## Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Software, Mechatronics, Robotics, Aerospace, or similar)
- **5+ years** experience in systems integration, robotics, or autonomous vehicles
- Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional engineering teams in high-stakes environments
- Strong background in autonomy, drive-by-wire systems, or related fields
- Ability to obtain Secret clearance

## Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D.)
- **10+ years** experience in systems integration, robotics, or autonomous vehicles
- Experience with DoD robotics/autonomous systems
- Experience in DoD acquisition or military collaboration

## Compensation
**US Salary Range: $175,000—$235,000** (plus equity and competitive benefits)

## Similar roles

- [Chief Engineer, Autonomy (R4614)](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/4a10db3d-6c9a-4630-8b20-e5a62a4a4cd6) - Shield AI - Washington, DC - $200k – $300k/yr
- [Chief Engineer, Autonomy](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/eec9fc68-35bb-4901-93e5-9a078625a580) - Shield AI - Washington, DC - $205k – $307k/yr
- [Chief Technology Officer](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/468c7d3a-285d-41ee-8c27-ec91b199074b) - Skyways - Austin, TX
- [VP of Development](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/c55bcd64-a7c3-49ff-9934-4ad6ea813c97) - Projecthealthyminds - New York, NY - $175k – $250k/yr
- [VP of Engineering](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/6d2dbcc9-18f6-4b07-abc5-9a14b9bef613) - Neon Health - San Francisco, CA - $211k – $260k/yr

**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/68b02c9f-e435-4f54-8b99-39f41ecaa8f6
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/68b02c9f-e435-4f54-8b99-39f41ecaa8f6