Senior Software Engineer

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.

About the role

Forterra is a leader in autonomous systems for ground-based operations, developing technology that protects front-line soldiers and empowers civilian workers in critical industries. As the go-to provider of ground autonomy solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense, Forterra develops advanced platforms that bring reliability and intelligence to the edge. We’re now expanding that mission through Vektor — a next-generation, edge‑deployed, software‑defined communication and smart data‑brokering layer designed for operations in disrupted, degraded, intermittent, and low‑bandwidth (DDIL) environments.

Joining the Vektor team means helping shape how humans and autonomous systems stay connected when it matters most.

What you'll do

• Design, develop, and optimize C++ and Python components supporting critical middleware, configuration management, data logging, and diagnostic subsystems in distributed robotic platforms.

• Translate high‑level concepts and system requirements into reliable, maintainable software implementations.

• Analyze and validate software for safety, reliability, maintainability, testability, and system security across complex, mission‑critical systems.

• Debug and triage real‑world communication and networking challenges from deployed autonomous ground systems.

• Collaborate in design reviews and code discussions, mentoring teammates and driving best practices for modern C++ and Python development.

• Implement and maintain robust unit, integration, and system‑level tests to ensure stability and performance.

• Profile, troubleshoot, and optimize software performance across multiple hardware and networked subsystems.

• Contribute to the evolution of our middleware architecture, shaping how autonomous platforms communicate, share data, and operate in constrained environments.

Qualifications

We’re looking for a Senior Software Engineer to join Vektor, Forterra’s team developing advanced communication and data systems for autonomous ground operations. You’ll design and build high performance software in C++ and Python, creating the middleware and infrastructure that enable distributed robotic systems to operate reliably in complex, real‑world environments.

We’re seeking engineers who thrive on solving challenging systems problems, have a deep understanding of performance and reliability, and want to help define the next generation of resilient, software‑defined communications at the edge.

• 5 Years of experience developing in Linux‑based environments

• Hands‑on experience with middleware frameworks and communication protocols (e.g., ROS, DDS, Protobuf, gRPC)

• Ability to write clean, maintainable, and well‑documented code

• Strong understanding of multi‑threaded programming, concurrency, and performance optimization

• Proven ability to design scalable systems and develop clean, intuitive APIs

• Eligibility to obtain a U.S. Secret security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with the challenges of wireless, wired, cloud, and satellite communications

• Working knowledge of networking fundamentals — TCP/IP stack, TCP, UDP, IPv4, routing, and firewall tools (e.g., iptables)

• Experience with distributed systems

US Salary Range

$165,000 - $185,000

Location

Hybrid in Palo Alto, CA

Benefits

• 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&DD, 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.

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