Lead Software Engineer Vehicle Systems & Embedded Controls

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Own the architecture, design, and execution of embedded software systems for vehicle control (Drive-by-Wire, steering, braking, propulsion).
• Lead and mentor a team of engineers developing control software for ECUs across multiple vehicle platforms.
• Establish and scale best practices in embedded systems development, including safety-critical standards (MIL STD 882, ISO 26262, ASPICE, DO-178).
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional stakeholders across hardware, systems, and vehicle integration teams.
• Drive quality initiatives including test automation, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and continuous integration.
• Set long-term technical direction and contribute to strategic planning and resource allocation.
• Act as a technical point of contact for internal and external stakeholders regarding software features, safety architecture, and system integration.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in embedded software development, with a strong focus on automotive, aerospace, or robotics systems.
• Demonstrated leadership in both people and technical domains — you've built and scaled engineering teams and led high-stakes projects from concept to production.
• Expertise in low-level software development (C/C++), embedded operating systems (RTOS), drivers, microcontrollers, and hardware abstraction layers.
• Deep experience in vehicle control systems, safety-critical software, and sensor integration (e.g., encoders, pressure and temperature transducers).
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as CAN, LIN, Ethernet.
• Working knowledge of software lifecycle models: Agile, Scrum, V-Model, ASPICE, DO-178, or ISO 26262.
• Experience working across geographically distributed teams and managing external partners or contractors.
• Passion for building great products and even better teams.

Nice to Have

• Prior experience with autonomous vehicles or ADAS systems.
• Certified Scrum Master or experience in Agile transformation leadership.
• Background in cloud-connected vehicle systems or IoT platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in software engineering, a related field, or equivalent industrial experience.

Benefits & Perks

• Competitive salary range of $180,000-$250,000 USD, including equity.
• 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, Legal & ID protection 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 Celsius drinks.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral with company match up to 4%.