# Vehicle Controls Systems Architect

**Company:** [Forterra](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/forterra)
**Location:** Clarksburg, MD
**Role:** Embedded Engineering
**Salary:** $150k – $200k/yr
**Experience:** 6+ years
**Skills:** Systems Architecture, Systems Integration, Requirements Management, Requirements Traceability, Interface Control Documents, Python, MATLAB, Octave, Fmea, Fault Tree Analysis, CAD, Electrical Schematics, C++, Simulink, Embedded Software
**Posted:** 2026-08-03

> Own vehicle systems architecture, requirements, and integration/test across mechanical, electrical, and software domains. The role requires hands-on experience integrating actuation and sensing systems, analyzing test data, and supporting safety-critical vehicle platforms.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities

### Systems Architecture & Requirements
- Own high-level systems architecture for vehicle subsystems, defining interactions among mechanical, electrical, and software components.
- Translate customer needs into system design decisions and tradeoffs.
- Collaborate with hardware and software leads on detailed architectures.
- Write, maintain, and trace system and subsystem requirements through integration and test.
- Author and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs), interface descriptions, and other systems engineering artifacts.

### Systems Integration & Test
- Integrate custom and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) actuation and sensing systems onto vehicle platforms.
- Design custom actuation or sensing solutions when commercial options are unsuitable.
- Bring hardware and software components together in laboratory and vehicle environments.
- Troubleshoot issues across mechanical, electrical, and software boundaries.
- Develop and execute test plans and procedures to validate system and subsystem performance.
- Operate autonomous vehicles to understand drive-by-wire system architecture and behavior.

### Engineering & Analysis
- Write MATLAB, Octave, or Python scripts to process, analyze, and visualize test and telemetry data.
- Produce systems engineering artifacts for safety analysis, including FMEA, fault trees, functional architectures, and allocations.
- Interpret mechanical and electrical CAD models, bills of material, COTS specifications, and drawings.
- Review software designs and code to evaluate system-level behavior and integration impacts.
- Contribute to mechanical, electrical, or software design efforts as appropriate.

### Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Communicate with mechanical, electrical, software, and program stakeholders.
- Translate between disciplines to keep integration and test work on schedule.

## Requirements
- 6+ years of hands-on systems integration and test engineering experience; exceptional candidates with 1–2 years of directly relevant experience may also be considered.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical, computer, mechanical, aerospace engineering, computer science, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
- Experience working across mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines.
- Experience writing, managing, and tracing system and subsystem requirements on a formal engineering program.
- Experience integrating COTS components, particularly actuation or sensing systems, onto vehicles or other complex electromechanical systems.
- Experience interpreting electrical schematics, including PCB, cable, and harness drawings.
- Working knowledge of interface control principles and ICD documentation.
- Ability to review text-based and model-based software and reason about system-level implications of code and design changes.
- Scripting proficiency, such as Python, for processing and analyzing test data.
- Must be a U.S. Person and eligible to obtain a security clearance in the future; no current clearance is required to start.
- Willingness to work hands-on with hardware in laboratory and field/vehicle environments.

## Preferred Qualifications
- End-to-end systems architecture ownership for a vehicle, robotic, or complex electromechanical platform.
- Experience developing and executing formal test plans and procedures.
- Background in automotive, medical, aerospace, robotics, or defense vehicle programs.
- Mechanical design proficiency, including CAD modeling and drafting.
- Electrical design proficiency, including eCAD modeling and cabling/harness design tools.
- Experience with C, C++, or Simulink embedded software development.
- Hands-on mechanical and electrical fabrication experience, such as machining, 3D printing, or cable assembly.

## Compensation & Benefits
- US salary range: **$150,000–$200,000**.
- Equity is included in most full-time, high-demand roles as part of the overall compensation package.
- Premium healthcare benefits, with Forterra covering 80% of plan premiums for employees and dependents.
- Company-paid basic life/AD&D and short- and long-term disability insurance.
- Company holidays, including a winter break in December.
- 20 days of accrued PTO per year.
- At least 7 weeks of fully paid parental leave.
- $9,000 annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
- 401(k) plan with company match up to 4%.

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