Senior Digital Engineer

Report to - Manager, Electronic Engineering

Role - Development, integration, production support and maintenance of firmware in systems and subsystems.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Firmware Development:

Develop and implement firmware in VHDL, with a focus on entry-level FPGA and SoC devices.

Optimise firmware code to fit within CPLD devices, such as the Max
10.

Comply with RTCA DO-254 where applicable.

Develop board support packages, including interfaces with peripherals.

Lead full life-cycle development of FPGA designs, from concept to implementation.

2. Simulation & Testing:

Create fully automated test benches for the verification of firmware designs.

In-depth debugging and testing of FPGA and SoC systems, identifying and resolving issues related to digital and analogue components at the PCB assembly level.

3. Supporting the E-CAD Department in FPGA PCB Design:

Contribute to the design and review of digital circuit designs for FPGA-based systems.

Collaborate closely with the PCB and E-CAD teams to ensure seamless integration of FPGA designs with the PCB layout.

Ensure compatibility of firmware with electronic components.

Test and debug PCB assemblies that include both analogue and digital components.

4. Software Collaboration & C Programming:

Write embedded C code to interface firmware with software on SoC systems.

Work closely with the software team to implement SoC designs and ensure smooth integration between hardware and software layers.

5. Documentation & Standards Compliance:

Write and maintain clear documentation, including firmware requirements, design descriptions, and test documents, in line with military and industry standards.

Ensure all documentation adheres to necessary standards for defense and aerospace applications, in compliance with DO-178 where applicable.

Requirements:

Familiarity with DO-254 (hardware design assurance) and DO-178 (software design assurance) standards for aerospace / defence systems.

Extensive experience with Intel Altera and/or AMD Xilinx FPGAs (e.g., Cyclone, Zynq
7000) and CPLD devices (such as the Max
10).

Knowledge

Experience with embedded C programming to interface firmware with software on SoC systems (such as Zynq 7000 or Cyclone series).

Knowledge of digital and analogue circuit design, with the ability to debug PCB assemblies.

Familiarity with the following tools is a distinct advantage:

AMD Xilinx Vivado (for FPGA development of AMD Xilinx FPGA-based systems).

Intel Altera Quartus II (for FPGA development of Intel Altera FPGA-based systems).

HDL Designer (for top-level FPGA development).

Altium Designer (for PCB design and integration).

Eclipse (for embedded software development on SoC-based systems).

Git (version control for firmware and software collaboration).

Simulation tools like Model Sim or Questa for functional verification of VHDL code.

Key Skills

Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a commitment to producing high-quality documentation.

Strong proficiency in VHDL for FPGA design and implementation.

Experience & Qualification

5 to 8 years of hands-on experience in FPGA firmware development, particularly with FPGA and SoC devices, preferably in a high-technology defense industry environment.

4 years Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

Relevant courses and/or certifications (e.g., FPGA development, embedded systems, DO-254 and DO-178), particularly in the context of defense and aerospace industries, are advantageous.