Forward Deployed Engineer
AI summary of the role
Field Service Engineer role at Forterra, reporting to the Director of Customer Success, providing hands-on technical support for autonomous ground vehicle systems in defense environments.
What you’ll do
- Provide on-site and remote support to diagnose and resolve complex system issues, minimizing downtime.
- Serve as primary technical escalation point for customers, particularly for software and networking issues.
- Perform log analysis, system health checks, and root cause investigations for recurring or critical failures.
- Support system installations, upgrades, patches, and configuration changes in field environments.
What you’ll bring
- 5+ years of relevant experience
- B.S. in computer science, engineering, robotics, or related field
- Proficiency in Linux systems (command line, system logs, basic administration)
- Solid understanding of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, routing, firewalls, VPNs)
Technologies
Linux · TCP/IP · DNS · routing · firewalls · VPNs · C++ · Python · state machines · path planning · perception pipelines · localization
About Forterra
Builds autonomous ground-vehicle software/hardware platforms (AutoDrive perception/autonomy, TerraLink networking) for U.S. defense and commercial transit/yard-truck customers, selling autonomy as a force-multiplier product.
Series C · 200–500 people
Source and classification
Implementation & delivery · Evidence for this classification:
hardware and software systems to ensure customer success, system reliability, and operational excellence. Reporting to the Director of Customer Success, this role focuses on hands-on field support to diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve complex system issues. The Field Service Engineer is responsible for maintaining system uptime, supporting deployments, and serving as a technical expert for customers, with a strong focus on root cause analysis, system integration, and continuous improvement. This role will support extended deployments in operational field environments, including possible active combat zones. What you'll do Customer Product Support: Monitor customer system performance and proactively identify issues across hardware and software components. Provide on-site and remote support to diagnose and resolve complex system issues, minimizing downtime. Serve as a primary
More from the job description
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 The Field Service Engineer plays a critical role in delivering advanced technical support across hardware and software systems to ensure customer success, system reliability, and operational excellence. Reporting to the Director of Customer Success, this role focuses on hands-on field support to diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve complex system issues. The Field Service Engineer is responsible for maintaining system uptime, supporting deployments, and serving as a technical expert for customers, with a strong focus on root cause analysis, system integration, and continuous improvement. This r [... source excerpt omitted ...] and software components. Provide on-site and remote support to diagnose and resolve complex system issues, minimizing downtime. Serve as a primary technical escalation point for customers, particularly for software, and networking-related issues. Technical Expertise and Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve issues across systems, networking infrastructure, and software. Perform log analysis, system health checks, and root cause investigations for recurring or critical failures. Support system installations, upgrades, patches, and configuration changes in field environments. Troubleshoot connectivity issues (e.g., IP networking, routing, firewalls, VPNs) and system integrat [... source excerpt omitted ...] within Linux environments. Documentation and Communication: Maintain detailed records of service activities, including issue diagnostics, resolution processes, asset usage, and customer interactions. Generate comprehensive Field Reports and Work Orders to provide actionable feedback to quality and engineering teams. Communicate service bulletins, informational notices, and product updates effectively to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring clear understanding and implementation. Customer Relationship Management: Build strong customer relationships by acting as a trusted technical advisor. Provide guidance on best practices for system operation, maintenance, and pe
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