Sr. Systems Engineer

As a Senior Systems Engineer at FORT, your key responsibilities include driving the development of advanced safety and operational systems for autonomous technologies. You will manage system-level requirements, ensuring organized documentation and proactive process development. Collaborating with cross-functional teams across hardware, firmware, and cloud software is crucial to ensure seamless integration and understanding of the systems you influence.

To qualify for the Senior Systems Engineer position at FORT, candidates should possess over 5 years of experience in developing complex systems, particularly in industrial automation. A strong technical background in software and hardware integration, along with hands-on experience managing requirements in a structured development process, is essential. A degree in a related field, such as Electrical Engineering or Computer Science, is also preferred.

FORT ensures seamless integration in robotics projects through active cross-functional collaboration among hardware, firmware, and cloud software teams. As a Senior Systems Engineer, you're expected to organize and manage the requirements while engaging stakeholders to decompose their needs into actionable system-level specifications. This holistic approach ensures that all components of the system work together efficiently.

At FORT, the work environment is hybrid, promoting a balanced mix of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. This setup fosters creativity and teamwork, allowing Senior Systems Engineers to engage with colleagues while balancing individual project work. The office is based in Philadelphia, so local candidates are preferred for occasional in-person meetings.

As a Senior Systems Engineer at FORT, you will engage in projects that involve developing next-generation autonomous systems across varied sectors such as defense, agriculture, and construction. You'll collaborate on the Robotics Control Platform (RCP) that incorporates safety and secure communications for robots, ensuring operational excellence in increasingly automated environments.

When answering this question, emphasize your hands-on experience with tools like Jama or similar, outlining specific instances where you've successfully implemented requirements management in past projects. Discuss how you maintained traceability and organized specifications to ensure alignment with development goals.

In your response, highlight your belief in open communication and teamwork. Provide examples of how you’ve engaged with various teams, such as firmware and hardware, to ensure that all stakeholders are aligned on project goals, addressing any potential gaps early in the design process.

Share specific strategies you practice, such as regular reviews of system requirements, holding brainstorming sessions to identify potential challenges, and maintaining comprehensive documentation that anticipates future needs. Highlight how these practices help in preventing project delays.

Provide a detailed narrative about a project where you integrated multiple system components. Include specifics on the challenges faced, your role in leading the project, and the outcomes that resulted from effective collaboration and systematic requirements management.

Discuss your methodical approach to prioritizing requirements based on stakeholder impact and project goals. Include examples of how you assess risks and benefits, using tools or frameworks that helped clarify the prioritization of tasks effectively.

Outline your understanding of critical factors such as safety, security, and efficiency in autonomous systems’ development. Explain how you incorporate these considerations during the requirements gathering and design phases, ensuring all aspects are fully addressed.

Emphasize your proactive problem-solving skills by providing examples of how you have identified potential system-level issues before they escalate and the steps you took to resolve them promptly, ensuring minimal disruption to the project timeline.

Share your background working with safety-critical systems and the regulations or standards you are familiar with. Discuss how you ensure compliance and focus on safety throughout the system development life cycle.

Detail your commitment to continuous learning, such as following industry news, participating in webinars or workshops, and engaging with professional networks. Explain how this knowledge informs your work as a Senior Systems Engineer at FORT.

Reflect on your unique blend of skills, experiences, and perspectives that you can bring to the role. Whether it’s innovative problem-solving, a collaborative spirit, or specialized technical knowledge, be sure to articulate how your contributions will align with FORT’s mission and goals.