Principal FPGA Verification Engineer

Overview

Stirling Dynamics is recruiting a Principal FPGA Design and Development Engineer to join the Software & Electronic Hardware team.

Are you ready to take ownership of FPGA design for high-integrity aerospace products?

Due to recent contract wins, continued growth, and the need to strengthen capability within our Software & Electronic Hardware team, Stirling Dynamics is looking for a talented and experienced Principal FPGA Design and Development Engineer to join our team delivering FPGA-based solutions for safety-critical and high-integrity aerospace systems. This role is intended for an engineer with strong hands‑on FPGA design experience who can contribute across the full development lifecycle, from requirements capture and architectural definition through detailed VHDL design, implementation, review, verification support, integration and certification evidence.

The successful candidate will support the development of gateware for electro‑mechanical systems and airborne electronic hardware, including products developed within a DO-254 framework.

We are looking for someone who enjoys technical ownership and practical engineering delivery. The right person will bring the discipline and rigour expected from safety‑critical FPGA development, while also being comfortable working in a dynamic, multi‑disciplinary environment where processes are continuously being optimised, and Principal engineers are expected to help shape the way we work. This would suit someone who has gained strong experience and is looking for a broad, and influential role in a smaller and more agile engineering business.

The role is based in our Bristol office with occasional travel to our clients’ sites as required, however as part of our commitment to flexible working, employees can work a hybrid working model.

• The successful candidate will join a team responsible for the design, implementation and verification support of FPGA solutions for safety-critical and high-integrity aerospace systems.
• Lead or contribute to FPGA architectural definition, detailed design and implementation activities using VHDL.
• Develop requirement‑based FPGA designs, ensuring traceability from system and hardware requirements through to FPGA low‑level requirements, design artefacts and verification evidence.
• Produce and maintain FPGA design documentation, including design descriptions, interface definitions, implementation notes and review evidence.
• Support DO‑254 planning, requirements capture, design, review and verification activities for complex electronic hardware.
• Work closely with systems, safety, electronics, software, test and certification engineers to ensure FPGA designs are correctly integrated within the wider product architecture.
• Support the development and maintenance of FPGA development workflows, including configuration management, branch‑based development, pull requests, design reviews and formal release baselines.
• Contribute to FPGA implementation activities including synthesis, constraints, timing closure, build scripting and implementation tool flow management.
• Support verification engineers in developing requirement‑based verification strategies, test plans, simulation environments and coverage closure.
• Participate in code and documentation reviews, including independent review of VHDL design code and review of evidence generated by linting, simulation and implementation tools.
• Help maintain and improve Stirling Dynamics’ FPGA development processes, tool chains and engineering practices.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and guidance to less experienced engineers.
• The level and scope of responsibilities will be dependent on the successful candidate’s knowledge and experience.

• Candidates will…