Principal FPGA Design Engineer

Job Description

A client is seeking a Principal FPGA Design Engineer to lead the design, integration, and validation of advanced FPGA-based systems for aerospace and defense applications. This individual will develop complex FPGA solutions using Xilinx, Microchip, and Lattice devices while supporting flight hardware, space systems, and other mission-critical embedded platforms.

Key responsibilities include VHDL/Verilog development, high-speed interface integration (MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet, SpaceWire, PCI, RS-422), simulation, timing closure, board bring-up, and system testing. The role also focuses on developing fault-tolerant architectures for high-reliability aerospace environments.

This person will serve as a technical lead, mentor engineers, collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, and act as a key customer-facing SME on highly visible aerospace programs. The ideal candidate has extensive FPGA expertise and experience delivering complex aerospace or defense systems.

Skills and Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field

• 10+ years of experience in FPGA development, digital board design, and aerospace/defense systems

• Expert-level VHDL and Verilog experience, including mixed-language simulation

• Extensive FPGA experience with AMD/Xilinx, Microchip/Actel, and Lattice/QuickLogic technologies

• Experience designing fault-tolerant, redundant systems for mission-critical applications

• Strong background with MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet, SpaceWire, AXI, RS-422, and PCI protocols Experience with Aldec Riviera, ModelSim/QuestaSim, Vivado, and Libero tool suites

• Hardware bring-up, debugging, and validation experience using oscilloscopes and logic analyzers

• Proven experience delivering aerospace projects such as satellite control computers, telemetry systems, or flight control systems

• Experience with board-level and system-level verification, timing closure, and FPGA integration

• Experience with radiation-tolerant and antifuse FPGA technologies

• Background in space-flight or satellite applications

• Experience embedding and configuring microprocessors/IP cores within flight hardware

• Previous customer-facing technical leadership experience

• Team mentorship and project leadership experience

• Active security clearance

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected].