Senior System Safety Engineer, Defense 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

At Forterra, we're developing the future for Ground Based Autonomy. Forterra is seeking a Senior System Safety Engineer to join our Defense Safety team and drive efforts in the development of safety-critical autonomous systems. This role is crucial in identifying and mitigating potential hazards within applications of our autonomy solutions.  

As a Senior System Safety Engineer, you will be a part of the Systems, Safety and Test team. Our Team is responsible for architecting systems which support safety-critical functions, establishing development methodologies for new technologies, and applying cutting edge hazard analysis techniques.  

As part of an experienced multi-disciplinary team, you will contribute to expanding ground based autonomous operational and functional capabilities. Your professional experience in system safety will further strengthen the team's ability to support the Warfighter. You will collaborate with members from other groups within Forterra to ensure the safety of innovative solutions for uncrewed ground vehicle operations. 

What You'Ll Do

In your role as a Senior System Safety Engineer, you will contribute to the development and architectural design supporting the delivery of prototypes and safety-critical ground based autonomous solutions. You will be responsible for performing analyses for hazard identification, evaluation and control using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques based on the System Safety Program Plan. You will:  

• Work across Forterra to design safety into our autonomous vehicle systems from the ground up – focusing on defense applications which follow a MIL-STD-882E process 
• Tackle the topics of functional safety, AI/machine learning, embedded systems and software development in a complex system environment 
• Work to define safety architecture, safety concepts and derive requirements from safety analyses 
• Perform safety analyses such as: Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA), Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA), Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Modes, States and Transitions Hazard Analysis, and Robotic Behavior/Capability Assessments  
• Communicate design considerations and progress with respect to system safety across the engineering organization  
• Incorporate Hazard Analyses into a Model-based Safety environment  
• Develop and refine safety concepts including architectural design, safety mechanisms, and verification activities, to ensure robust safety performance 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop test cases for safety-critical hardware and software  
• Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship to system safety engineers and cross-functional teams on safety engineering principles and best practices  
• Stay informed about industry trends and advancements in defense safety  
• Participate in trade studies and testing activities to ensure safety requirements are met • Participate in Systems Engineering Technical Reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.)  
• Participate in System Safety Working Groups (SSWG)  

Qualifications

• 5+ years of work experience as a System Safety engineer or related role focused on autonomous or safety critical systems  
• Specific experience with MIL-STD 882E or a related or similar functional safety standards (e.g., ARP 4754/4761, ISO 26262, UL 4600, IEC 61508, IEC 62304)  
• Experience with Probabilistic Risk Analysis (PRA) techniques  
• Knowledge of reviewing and applying supplier Safety Manuals  
• Familiar with mathematical and engineering principles and methods used to design safety critical systems  
• Experience with robotics, AI and/or machine learning  
• Strong communication skills and the ability to communicate complex engineering issues to a diverse team 

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate Safety Professional (GSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) or Functional Safety Certification  
• Experience with SysML modeling and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools (Cameo, Medini Analyze)  
• Experience with managing requirements (Jama, Doors, Polarion) and issue tracking (JIRA)  
• Direct experience in the design and development of autonomous vehicles or advanced ADAS applications 

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Systems or related Engineering discipline, Computer Science, or a related technical field; Master's Degree Preferred  

US Salary Range
 $130,000—$175,000
 

The salary range for this role is an estimate and is based on a wide variety of compensation factors. The salary offered to candidates will vary based on a variety of factors including (but not limited to) relevant work experience, education, specialized training, critical expertise, training, and more. Equity in Forterra is included in most of our full-time, high-demand roles and is therefore considered part of Forterra’s overall compensation package. In addition to base salary and equity, Forterra offers competitive benefits for full-time employees including:

• 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&D, 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.
• Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year.
• A minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth/adoption. 
• A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators with all the Celsius your little heart desires. 
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral with company match up to 4%.

Your recruiter will be able to share more information about our salary and benefits offering during the hiring process.  

Forterra is an equal-opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. Forterrans are unique, talented individuals who are united through a shared passion to deliver autonomous systems that enable national resilience and a robust supply chain. All qualified applications will receive equal consideration for employment.