Electrical Engineer - Vehicle Systems

Electrical Engineer - Vehicle Systems 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 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 Drive-by-Wire Electrical Integration 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 specifications CAN 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 bod ... (truncated, view full listing at source)