Firmware Engineer

Sr. Firmware Engineer II – FPGA/VHDL (Remote)

This role focuses on designing, implementing, and validating advanced FPGA-based firmware for space domain awareness and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems. You will collaborate closely with hardware and software teams to develop high-performance, reliable firmware that operates in challenging environments, including space. The position offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge FPGA technologies, contribute to mission-critical space and ISR programs, and be part of a highly skilled team that values continuous learning and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the hardware design team to define, refine, and document firmware requirements for FPGA-based systems.
• Complete FPGA logic design, coding, simulation, and verification using VHDL, ensuring robust and maintainable implementations.
• Perform synthesis, implementation, and timing analysis to meet performance, area, and power constraints on targeted FPGA platforms.
• Support hardware and software development teams during system bring-up, integration, and testing of new products.
• Provide subject-matter expertise on FPGA design methodologies, automated test development procedures, and best practices to internal teams and production support.
• Conduct research and analysis of customer specifications, datasheets, and technical manuals to determine design approaches, assess feasibility, and identify risks.
• Execute debugging and validation of FPGA designs in the lab, including root-cause analysis and resolution of complex issues.
• Develop and refine firmware architectures that support high-speed interfaces such as DDR4, Aurora, and multi-gigabit transceivers.
• Contribute to the development and optimization of FPGA-based image processing algorithms and related signal processing pipelines.
• Implement and verify software interfaces to firmware, including interrupts, DMA, and AXI-based communication paths.
• Participate in design and code reviews, providing constructive feedback and ensuring adherence to quality and reliability standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support systems operating in radiation environments, including implementing and validating SEU/SEL mitigation techniques.
• Assist with the creation and integration of custom IP cores from scratch to meet specific mission and system requirements.
• Support continuous improvement of development workflows, including the use of AI-assisted implementation tools and automation where appropriate.
• Engage in knowledge sharing and mentorship within the team, helping colleagues learn new technologies and techniques as projects evolve.

Essential Skills

• At least 8 years of professional, full-time firmware engineering experience.
• At least 8 years of experience in FPGA firmware design using VHDL.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in hand-coded FPGA implementation.
• Exposure to AI-assisted implementation workflows in VHDL-based FPGA development.
• Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or an equivalent discipline.
• Strong proficiency in FPGA logic design, coding, simulation, and testing using VHDL.
• Demonstrated experience with synthesis, implementation, and timing analysis for complex FPGA designs.
• Ability to interpret and analyze customer specifications, datasheets, and technical manuals to guide design decisions.
• Experience supporting hardware and software teams in system bring-up, integration, and test.
• Solid understanding of digital design fundamentals, including high-speed interfaces and memory subsystems.
• Proficiency in debugging FPGA designs in a lab environment using appropriate tools and methodologies.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Linux development or strong familiarity with Linux-based environments.
• Experience working in Yocto-based environments.
• Familiarity with communication interfaces such as RS‑422/RS‑485, I²C, SPI, Ethernet/GigE, TCP/IP, UDP, and CAN.
• Experience with high-speed interfaces, including DDR or multi-gigabit transceivers.
• Experience with Xilinx/AMD Versal architecture and related tool chains.
• Experience with FPGAs and embedded systems operating in radiation environments, including understanding SEU/SEL impacts and mitigation techniques.
• Experience implementing FPGA-based image processing algorithms.
• Experience creating custom IP cores from scratch for FPGA implementations.
• Familiarity with C, C++, Python, or MATLAB and experience translating algorithms from scripted languages into HDL.
• Experience with software interfaces to FPGA logic, including interrupts and DMA.
• Experience with DDR4, Aurora, and high-speed transceiver design and verification.
• Familiarity with AXI Stream and AXI Memory Mapped interfaces.
• Experience with PCB design, schematic capture, and layout using tools such as Altium Designer.
• Interest in space systems, space domain awareness, and working on payloads deployed in orbit.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.

Work…