Principal FPGA Engineer

Company:
Ultra Intelligence & Communications

Cyber (UK) Business

Join the team redefining defense technology. From engineering systems that save lives to leading programs that change the battlefield—find your place in the future of defense.

Our Cyber business unit is at the forefront of pioneering advanced cryptographic and key management solutions, facilitating the confidential exchange of vital information for customers operating at both tactical and strategic echelons. Join our team and participate in the innovation that ensures the highest security and trust worldwide.

The Principal Firmware (FPGA) Engineer is a senior experienced technical professional who is able to lead the architecture, design, implementation, integration, and verification of firmware systems built on Field‑Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). This role combines deep expertise in embedded systems, digital hardware design, and FPGA logic development with the ability to guide complex projects from concept through qualification and deployment.

Working closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, the Principal Firmware Engineer plays a critical role in shaping and influencing product design and development. By integrating firmware considerations from the earliest stages, they help ensure that solutions are not only compliant with relevant standards but are also robust, reliable, and fit for purpose in demanding operational environments.

• Perform requirements analysis and requirements derivation to generate understandable, and robust firmware requirements from inbound (user and systems level) requirements. In doing so, provide feedback to the systems team regarding poorly written, ambiguous, or unverifiable inbound requirements.
• Produce high quality and robust Firmware designs and architectures to meet the Firmware requirements and Interface specifications.
• Produce design, development and implementation documentation including specifications, reports and proposals of a quality commensurate with its end use.
• Produce documentation to show requirement traceability including verification methodologies.
• Accurately estimates work of self and others; identifies cost-effective solutions in terms of both development time and materials; delivers predictably and increases team’s ability to do the same.
• Ensure that the Firmware development process is conducted in accordance with the Firmware development plan.
• Requires only general direction to perform effectively; is not subject to supervision or close management.
• Generate inputs required for product level design reviews.
• Reviews and signs off significant technical documents; will often chair technical reviews for significant deliverables.
• Provides specialist knowledge and support to the wider engineering team; recognised as a domain expert inside the company, and possibly with external bodies.
• Mentors and coaches less experienced engineers; shares knowledge willingly and constructively.
• Proposes and champions ideas for improvement that support innovation and make the engineering organisation more efficient.
• Actively look for opportunities to improve processes used in the Firmware development and propose changes. Implementing these changes where appropriate.
• The role may involve line management responsibility.
• Manage security of information as defined in the Security manual.
• Where requested provides feedback on firmware development status and cost to complete to the Project Manager and/or Engineering Project Lead (or equivalent)
• Undertake the role of firmware lead, where requested. In this role, technically manage a team of firmware engineers ensuring they have clear objectives with agreed realisation dates.

• Degree in an engineering, mathematical or science-based subject or equivalent experience.
• Highly organised, self-managing, able to manage multiple activities at any one time
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to engage effectively with all audiences/stakeholders at all levels in the organisation
• Strong understanding of risk management principles, including risk assessment, mitigation,…