Principal FPGA​/Firmware Engineer

Job Title:

Principal FPGA/Firmware Engineer

Job Category:
Engineering

Time Type:
Full time

Minimum Clearance Required to Start:
None

Employee Type:
Regular

Percentage of

Travel Required:

Up to 10%

Type of Travel:
Continental US

Anticipated Posting End: 1/1/2099

CACI's Advanced Communications (AC) division builds transformational software and hardware solutions that support critical programs around the globe and in space. Since 2008, AC has delivered more than 2,500 applications, services/microservices, and cloud-based solutions that support mission-critical communication networks. From manned space missions to technology demonstrations, AC has been entrusted as a vital infrastructure partner for commercial, civil, and Government customers alike.

We are seeking a Senior FPGA/Firmware Engineer who leads complex architectures, mentors engineers, and drives technical decisions across hardware, firmware, and system-level designs. This role has ownership of FPGA, firmware, and PCB design for CACI's hardware platforms. Our engineers design advanced software-defined and FPGA-enabled systems for high-performance RF and baseband operations.

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of FPGA and firmware solutions across multiple product lines.
• Serve as technical lead for design reviews, system integration, and hardware/firmware decision-making.
• Mentor mid-level and junior engineers, promoting best practices and technical excellence.
• Architect high-performance FPGA systems including DSP pipelines, memory interfaces, and high-speed data paths.
• Participate in PCB schematic development, component selection, and cross-functional integration.
• Lead the design, verification, and validation (V&V) of FPGA and firmware systems, including developing rigorous test plans, simulation strategies, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop validation workflows.
• Engage with customers to translate mission needs into system and FPGA/firmware architectures.
• Drive continuous improvement of engineering processes and reusable design methodologies.
• Communicate clearly with stakeholders and leadership on project architectures and execution.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field with 10+ years of FPGA/firmware engineering experience.
• Must have US Citizenship.
• Expert experience with VHDL/Verilog for designing complex, high-performance FPGA architectures.
• Mastery of FPGA simulation methodologies including constrained-random and coverage-driven verification.
• Experience leading FPGA implementation, timing closure, and hardware validation.
• Practical RF lab skills, including the use of spectrum analyzers, VNAs, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and RF test fixtures.
• Experience leading PCB architecture, schematic design, and design review activities.
• Fluency with high-speed interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, SERDES, LVDS, JESD
  204).
• Proficiency with Python, TCL, MATLAB for FPGA automation and analysis.
• Ability to define and lead system-level hardware/firmware architectures.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

• Senior-level embedded development experience in C/C++ for microcontrollers, SoCs, and soft-core processors.
• Strong DSP background with ability to architect and optimize processing pipelines.
• Track record of technical leadership: setting architecture, reviewing designs, mentoring engineers, and driving high-quality execution.
• Experience with Xilinx Ultrascale, RFSoC, and MPSoC platforms.
• Experience leading customer technical discussions and proposal efforts.
• Familiarity with telemetry, satellite communications, and space system architectures.

At CACI, we place…