Fully Remote Firmware Engineer

REMOTE :
Fully Remote FPGA / Firmware Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on developing advanced FPGA-based firmware for cutting-edge electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) systems that support space domain awareness and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. You will design, implement, and verify complex VHDL-based firmware, collaborate closely with hardware and software teams, and help deliver high-performance payload solutions for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. The position offers the opportunity to work on systems that operate in space, processing data at the point of collection to deliver highly optimized results to customers.

Responsibilities

+ Collaborate with the hardware design team to define and refine firmware requirements and ensure seamless integration between hardware and FPGA designs.

+ Complete FPGA logic design, including architecture definition, VHDL coding, simulation, and unit- and system-level testing.

+ Support hardware and software development teams during board bring-up, integration, and testing of new products.

+ Provide subject-matter expertise on FPGA design, automated test development, and best practices to internal teams and production support.

+ Perform research and analysis of customer specifications, datasheets, and technical manuals to determine design approaches, assess feasibility, and propose solutions.

+ Execute debugging and troubleshooting of FPGA designs in the lab, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.

+ Perform synthesis, implementation, and timing analysis to ensure FPGA designs meet performance, resource, and timing requirements.

+ Implement both hand-coded and AI-assisted VHDL designs, ensuring code quality, reliability, and maintainability.

+ Contribute to the development and integration of FPGA-based image processing algorithms for EO/IR systems.

+ Integrate and verify high-speed interfaces such as DDR4, Aurora, AXI Stream, and other multi-gigabit transceiver links.

+ Collaborate with software engineers to define and implement software interfaces, including interrupts, DMA, and communication protocols.

+ Support designs intended for radiation environments by considering SEU/SEL impacts and contributing to mitigation strategies.

+ Participate in the creation and integration of custom IP cores and the incorporation of existing IP into RTL and block designs.

+ Assist in PCB design reviews and collaborate with teams using schematic capture and layout tools to ensure firmware-hardware compatibility.

Essential Skills

+ At least 8 years of professional, full-time firmware engineering experience.

+ Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or an equivalent field.

+ At least 8 years of experience in FPGA firmware design using VHDL.

+ At least 3 years of professional experience with hand-coded implementation and AI-assisted implementation in VHDL.

+ Strong experience with FPGA-based development, including logic design, simulation, and verification.

+ Proficiency in performing synthesis, implementation, and timing analysis for FPGA designs.

+ Experience working with software interfaces and integrating firmware with broader system architectures.

+ Ability to analyze customer specifications, datasheets, and technical documentation to determine design feasibility and approach.

+ Hands-on experience debugging FPGA designs in a lab environment.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+

Experience with Linux development or strong familiarity with Linux-based environments.

+ Experience working in Yocto environments and with interfaces such as RS‑422/RS‑485, I²C, SPI, Ethernet/GigE, TCP/IP, UDP, and CAN.

+

Experience with high-speed interfaces such as DDR or multi-gigabit transceivers.

+

Experience with Xilinx/AMD Versal architecture or similar advanced FPGA platforms.

+ Experience designing FPGAs and embedded systems for radiation environments, including understanding SEU/SEL impacts and mitigation techniques.

+

Experience with FPGA- or ASIC-based image processing algorithms, particularly for EO/IR applications.

+ Experience creating IP from scratch in RTL and integrating existing IP into RTL and block designs.

+…