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Forterra · 1 day ago

Senior Android ATAK Engineer

East Palo Alto, CA

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$120K/yr - $220K/yr

7+ years exp

Forterra is a leading provider of autonomous systems focused on building solutions for ground-based movement. They are seeking a Senior Android ATAK Engineer to develop tactical command-and-control capabilities for autonomous vehicles, contributing to the architecture, development, and integration of ATAK-based systems.

Defense & Space

Growth Opportunities

No H1B

Security Clearance Required

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Contribute to the design, implementation, and maintenance of Forterra’s tactical C2 capability through ATAK plugin development in Java/Kotlin for the Android platform

Architect and evolve the remote C2 system connecting Forterra platforms to ATAK and partner interfaces across commercial and DoD use cases

Drive API design and data modeling across systems to ensure reliability, flexibility, and performance

Collaborate with autonomy and networking engineers to enable robust communication under constrained and adversarial conditions

Guide development of intuitive user experiences that support situational awareness, health monitoring, and direct platform control

Contribute to and review code across multiple languages (Java, Kotlin, C++, C) as needed for integration and performance

Contribute to documentation, field validation, and integration efforts with third-party platforms and government systems

Support a culture of engineering excellence through mentorship, design reviews, and quality-first development practices

Qualification

JavaAndroid ATAK plugin developmentAPI designSQL databasesAndroid JetpackMaterial UI librariesC++JNI developmentLinux developmentStructured Problem SolvingMission-First MindsetSystems thinkingDebugging skillsCross-Functional LeadershipOwnership Mentality

Required

Mission-First Mindset: A deep commitment to enabling national resilience and operational advantage through technical excellence

Ownership Mentality: A bias toward action and accountability, with a willingness to identify and solve the hardest problems

Structured Problem Solving: Ability to break down complexity, drive toward clarity, and execute against a plan

Cross-Functional Leadership: Comfort operating in a non-hierarchical matrix environment, leading through influence and collaboration

Deep expertise in Java and Android-based ATAK plugin development

Experience with SQL databases

Experience with Android Jetpack and Material UI libraries

Familiarity with C++ and/or C codebases, particularly in embedded or mobile contexts

Experience with JNI development and implementation

Strong understanding of Linux development environments, networking protocols, and distributed systems

Demonstrated ability to operate autonomously and lead efforts from design through deployment

Preferred

Hands-on experience integrating with TAK Server, tactical radios, or defense-grade networking systems

Familiarity with build systems (e.g., CMake), package managers (e.g., Conan), and Git workflows

Background in defense, robotics, or autonomous vehicle domains

Strong systems thinking, debugging skills, and the ability to operate effectively in field environments

Experience with gRPC and protobuf

Bachelor Degree in Computer Science (or similar field), or equivalent work experience

7+ years of software engineering experience, with 2+ years specifically focused on ATAK plugin development

Experience with designing APIs and handling data transfer over low-bandwidth, high-latency networks

Benefits

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.

$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%.