Principal FPGA Design Engineer

A client is seeking a Principal FPGA Design Engineer to lead the design, integration, and validation of advanced FPGA-based systems for aerospace and defense applications. This individual will develop complex FPGA solutions using Xilinx, Microchip, and Lattice devices while supporting flight hardware, space systems, and other mission-critical embedded platforms.

Key responsibilities include VHDL/Verilog development, high-speed interface integration (MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet, SpaceWire, PCI, RS-422), simulation, timing closure, board bring-up, and system testing. The role also focuses on developing fault-tolerant architectures for high-reliability aerospace environments.

This person will serve as a technical lead, mentor engineers, collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, and act as a key customer-facing SME on highly visible aerospace programs. The ideal candidate has extensive FPGA expertise and experience delivering complex aerospace or defense systems.

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- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
- 10+ years of experience in FPGA development, digital board design, and aerospace/defense systems
- Expert-level VHDL and Verilog experience, including mixed-language simulation
- Extensive FPGA experience with AMD/Xilinx, Microchip/Actel, and Lattice/QuickLogic technologies
- Experience designing fault-tolerant, redundant systems for mission-critical applications
- Strong background with MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet, SpaceWire, AXI, RS-422, and PCI protocols
Experience with Aldec Riviera, ModelSim/QuestaSim, Vivado, and Libero tool suites
- Hardware bring-up, debugging, and validation experience using oscilloscopes and logic analyzers
- Proven experience delivering aerospace projects such as satellite control computers, telemetry systems, or flight control systems
- Experience with board-level and system-level verification, timing closure, and FPGA integration

- Experience with radiation-tolerant and antifuse FPGA technologies
- Background in space-flight or satellite applications
- Experience embedding and configuring microprocessors/IP cores within flight hardware
- Previous customer-facing technical leadership experience
- Team mentorship and project leadership experience
- Active security clearance

Benefit packages for this role will start on the 1st day of employment and include medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as HSA, FSA, and DCFSA account options, and 401k retirement account access with employer matching. Employees in this role are also entitled to paid sick leave and/or other paid time off as provided by applicable law.