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# Autonomy Software Engineer

- **Company:** Robotic Research LLC
- **Location:** Clarksburg, MD, United States
- **Salary:** $120,000.0 - $165,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Clean Code Principles, Java (Programming Language), Unit Testing, C++ (Programming Language), Computer Programming, Data Structures, Software Debugging, Python (Programming Language), Motion Planning, Real-Time Operating Systems, Software Engineering, Software Systems, State Machines, Solid Principles, Information Technology, Enterprise Integration
- **Published:** November 5, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/autonomy-software-engineer-clarksburg-md--6e667a08-2017-44b4-a869-a9ccf2149ed6

## About the Role

Software Engineering, Ecosystems, Risk, System Operations, Network Integration, Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Software Engineering, Automation, Robotics, Software Development, * B.S. in computer science, engineering, robotics, or related field or relevant experience/show of skill

 * Experience in integrating software on hardware products
 * Strong programming skills in languages such as C++, Python, or Java
 * Solid core software engineering skills: software design, unit testing, debugging
 * Ability to consistently deliver production-quality software in a continuously integrated environment
 * Strong understanding of algorithms, data structures, and software design principles
 * Demonstrates clean, maintainable code and documentation practices

Preferred Qualifications

 * Experience in software development for robotics and autonomous systems
 * Experience with ROS2
 * Experience with state machines and motion / path planning
 * Knowledge of navigation, mapping algorithms and robot perception
 * Familiarity with real-time operating systems and embedded programming

## Description

Forterra is seeking a software engineer with a passion for autonomous systems. In this role, you will design, develop, and field software solutions that enable intelligent behavior in robotics and automation technologies. You will directly support real-world missions across our fleet of ground vehicles operated by our national security customers around the world.

The ideal candidate has a strong software development background, familiarity with robotics and autonomous systems, and proven track record of collaborating with a cross-functional team of engineers, researchers, and product managers to create robust and scalable software for complex systems.

What you'll do

 * Bring autonomy into real operations: Integrate and deploy our autonomy stack on customer-bound hardware platforms and validate it in real-world conditions.
 * Build with users and stakeholders: Work across the organization and directly with end-users to deliver new behaviors, payload integrations, and emerging mission use-cases.
 * Optimize the full system: Take a holistic view of autonomous vehicle behavior-how sensing, compute, controls, and other subsystems interact-and drive overall performance improvements.
 * Close the loop from test to deploy: Analyze test results, identify issues and root causes, and collaborate with engineering teams to drive problems to resolution
 * Improve the core autonomy stack: Detect performance shortfalls, shape solution approaches, and implement enhancements in partnership with cross-functional teams.
 * Connect product needs to R&D execution: Partner across business development and engineering teams to translate customer requirements into delivered autonomy capabilities.
 * Travel: Travel ranging from 10-25% and 25-50% depending on candidate preference and role placement. Ability to commute to Arlington, VA as needed.