Forterra, Inc.
Perception Engineer - Computer Vision/Machine Learning
Forterra, Inc., Clarksburg, Maryland, United States, 20871
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.
Forterra is refining our robust, real-time perception systems to power autonomous vehicle platforms operating in dynamic, complex environments. We're seeking a Perception Engineer with expertise in computer vision and deep learning to develop and refine core features such as object recognition and scene understanding. This is a hands-on, systems-level role that bridges research and deployment. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in designing and developing core perception algorithms in multiple sensor domains: object detection, and tracking algorithms running on hardware operating in varied environments under real-time constraints.
What You'll Do
Develop and deploy perception algorithms for object detection, semantic segmentation, classification, and OCR across various sensor modalities (camera, LiDAR, radar). Improve existing deep learning models and monitor their performance over time. Stay up-to-date with academic research and industry trends as relates to deep learning for perception. Design data pipelines for training, validation, and model performance tracking across real-world scenarios. Collaborate with autonomy, systems, and field engineering teams to validate performance in deployed systems. Analyze logged data and troubleshoot on-site issues to identify and resolve potential problems. What We're Looking For:
Solid understanding of machine learning training/deployment pipelines and their implementation. Experience building real-time perception models for detection, tracking, segmentation, and OCR. Solid programming skills in Python and C++, with experience in robotics or embedded deployment pipelines. Familiarity with performance optimization, inference acceleration, and deployment on edge devices (e.g., Jetson, TensorRT). Understanding of data annotation, training workflows, and general machine learning lifecycle. Ability to debug perception issues in field data and iterate rapidly. Maintain thorough documentation of algorithm development, testing procedures, and results for team accessibility. Strong ability to problem-solve, acts as a self-starter, doesn't shy away from technical challenges. Strong attention to detail, follow-through, and ability to plan architecture to anticipate future technical expansion. What We Need:
BS, MS, or PhD in computer science, electrical engineering, robotics, or related field, or with equivalent industrial experience 2+ years of similar academic and/or professional working experience What We Love to See:
Experience with delivering production-quality software in a continuously-integrated environment using test-drive development patterns. Familiarity with multimodal sensor fusion and SLAM or visual odometry. Experience with ROS, Docker, and continuous integration for robotics systems. Background in structured data management for ML training and evaluation. Exposure to AI model deployment in constrained environments with real-time performance requirements. Experience with cloud infrastructure and AWS in particular. Pay Range:
US Salary Range $120,000-$170,000
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.
The pay range for this role is:
120,000 - 170,000 USD per year (ARC)
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.
Forterra is refining our robust, real-time perception systems to power autonomous vehicle platforms operating in dynamic, complex environments. We're seeking a Perception Engineer with expertise in computer vision and deep learning to develop and refine core features such as object recognition and scene understanding. This is a hands-on, systems-level role that bridges research and deployment. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in designing and developing core perception algorithms in multiple sensor domains: object detection, and tracking algorithms running on hardware operating in varied environments under real-time constraints.
What You'll Do
Develop and deploy perception algorithms for object detection, semantic segmentation, classification, and OCR across various sensor modalities (camera, LiDAR, radar). Improve existing deep learning models and monitor their performance over time. Stay up-to-date with academic research and industry trends as relates to deep learning for perception. Design data pipelines for training, validation, and model performance tracking across real-world scenarios. Collaborate with autonomy, systems, and field engineering teams to validate performance in deployed systems. Analyze logged data and troubleshoot on-site issues to identify and resolve potential problems. What We're Looking For:
Solid understanding of machine learning training/deployment pipelines and their implementation. Experience building real-time perception models for detection, tracking, segmentation, and OCR. Solid programming skills in Python and C++, with experience in robotics or embedded deployment pipelines. Familiarity with performance optimization, inference acceleration, and deployment on edge devices (e.g., Jetson, TensorRT). Understanding of data annotation, training workflows, and general machine learning lifecycle. Ability to debug perception issues in field data and iterate rapidly. Maintain thorough documentation of algorithm development, testing procedures, and results for team accessibility. Strong ability to problem-solve, acts as a self-starter, doesn't shy away from technical challenges. Strong attention to detail, follow-through, and ability to plan architecture to anticipate future technical expansion. What We Need:
BS, MS, or PhD in computer science, electrical engineering, robotics, or related field, or with equivalent industrial experience 2+ years of similar academic and/or professional working experience What We Love to See:
Experience with delivering production-quality software in a continuously-integrated environment using test-drive development patterns. Familiarity with multimodal sensor fusion and SLAM or visual odometry. Experience with ROS, Docker, and continuous integration for robotics systems. Background in structured data management for ML training and evaluation. Exposure to AI model deployment in constrained environments with real-time performance requirements. Experience with cloud infrastructure and AWS in particular. Pay Range:
US Salary Range $120,000-$170,000
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.
The pay range for this role is:
120,000 - 170,000 USD per year (ARC)