Senior Software Engineer, Tooling

About Forterra

At Forterra, we are unleashing autonomy at scale to transform the battlefield. Our mission is to build the foundational platforms that enable an intelligent ecosystem to coordinate, adapt, and execute with speed and precision even in the uncertainty and disruption of modern conflict. In an era marked by rapid technological change and evolving threats, we design for flexibility, survivability, and operational dominance.

Forterra delivers weapons, sensors, and battlefield effects through integrated autonomous networks reaching operational areas faster, safer, and without placing human lives at risk. Our systems operate with distributed control, dynamic routing, and real-time responsiveness, enabling sustained advantage across complex mission environments.

About the role

Forterra is expanding its mission through Vektor, a next-generation, edge-deployed, software-defined communications and smart data-brokering layer built for disrupted, degraded, intermittent, and lowbandwidth (DDIL) environments. Joining the Vektor team means helping shape how humans and autonomous systems stay connected when it matters most. In this role, you will lead the design and implementation of Vektor’s tooling, CI/CD, and test infrastructure for a first-of-its-kind distributed Software-Defined WAN. You’ll build the systems that enable fast, reliable development and deployment, and you’ll create realistic test environments that validate performance across both software and hardware. 

We’re looking for engineers who thrive on hard systems problems, care deeply about testing and reliability, and enjoy building infrastructure that makes teams faster and products more robust. 

What you'll do

As the primary owner for tooling and test infrastructure, you will: 

• Design and implement GitLab CI pipelines, build systems, and developer tooling to support rapid iteration and high confidence releases. 

• Build containerized simulation environments (Docker / Docker Compose) that replicate real-world networking and DDIL constraints for integration and system testing. 

• Develop and maintain robust unit, integration, and end-to-end tests to validate stability, performance, and correctness. 

• Create and operate hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test frameworks that validate behavior across multiple radio types and configurations. 

• Translate high-level concepts and system requirements into reliable, maintainable implementations with strong documentation. 

• Collaborate across engineering in design reviews and code discussions, mentor teammates, and drive best practices for modern development and test automation. 

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of software development experience in Linux-based environments 

• Strong ability to write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code (including Bash) 

• Proven experience designing scalable, reliable systems and test infrastructure 

• Hands-on experience with container infrastructure (e.g., Docker, Docker Compose) 

• Experience building and maintaining GitLab CI pipelines

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Proxmox or similar virtualization backends 

• Working knowledge of PKI / security fundamentals 

• Strong networking fundamentals (TCP/IP stack, TCP, UDP, IPv4) 

US Salary Range
 $165,000 - $185,000

Location

Hybrid in Palo Alto, CA // Hybrid in Arlington, VA // Remote

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.

CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY - This position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. For more information about U.S. Security Clearances: click here.   

Forterra is an equal-opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in all personnel practices. 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 applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any factor, including veteran and disability status, and criminal history, in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

Forterra is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

To see Forterra’s candidate data privacy policy, please visit Forterra Legal | Job Applicant Privacy Notice.