# Vehicle Controls Systems Architect

**Company:** [Forterra](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/forterra)
**Location:** Clarksburg, MD
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Salary:** $150k – $200k/yr
**Experience:** 6+ years
**Skills:** systems architecture, systems integration, requirements management, systems testing, Python, MATLAB, octave, C, C++, simulink, CAD, electrical schematics, fmea, fault tree analysis, interface control documents
**Posted:** 2026-08-03

> Architects, integrates, and tests vehicle control subsystems spanning mechanical, electrical, and software domains. The role requires hands-on systems engineering experience, requirements traceability, COTS actuation or sensing integration, scripting for test analysis, and a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities

### Systems Architecture & Requirements
- Own high-level systems architecture for vehicle subsystems, defining interactions among mechanical, electrical, and software components.
- Work with internal and external customers to understand requirements and tradeoffs for system design decisions.
- Collaborate with hardware and software leads to develop detailed hardware and software architectures.
- Write, maintain, and trace system and subsystem requirements through integration and test.
- Author and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs), interface description documents, and other systems engineering artifacts.

### Systems Integration & Test
- Integrate custom and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) actuation and sensing systems onto vehicle platforms.
- Design unique actuation or sensing solutions when suitable commercial options are unavailable.
- Work hands-on with vehicles to integrate hardware and software components across teams.
- Troubleshoot integration issues across mechanical, electrical, and software boundaries in laboratory and vehicle environments.
- Develop and execute test plans and procedures to validate system and subsystem performance.
- Operate autonomous vehicles to understand how drive-by-wire systems fit into the overall system architecture.

### Engineering & Analysis
- Write scripts using tools such as MATLAB, Octave, and Python to process, analyze, and visualize test and telemetry data.
- Generate 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 design and code to validate system-level behavior and integration impacts.
- Contribute to mechanical, electrical, or software design in areas of expertise.

### Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Communicate with mechanical, electrical, software, and program stakeholders.
- Translate between disciplines to keep integration and test work moving 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 be considered.
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, 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 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.
- Willingness to work hands-on with hardware in laboratory and field or vehicle environments.

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

## Compensation & Benefits
- **Salary range:** $150,000–$200,000 annually.
- Equity is included in most full-time, high-demand roles.
- Premium healthcare benefits, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium for employees and dependents.
- Company-paid basic life/AD&D and short- and long-term disability insurance.
- Company holiday calendar, including a December winter break.
- 20 days of accrued paid time off 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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