Senior / Principal FPGA Engineer

Description

The Senior/Principal FPGA Engineer is responsible for the design and development of FPGA solutions using VHDL, as well as verifying designs with VHDL or SystemVerilog.

The engineer collaborates closely with Systems, Hardware, and Software teams to provide FPGA solutions and resolve integration challenges on complex systems. Key duties include creating innovative, robust VHDL-based designs, documenting and recording deliverables, verifying FPGA designs, maintaining configuration and revision control, and delivering progress reports.

• Design and develop FPGA solutions using VHDL and verify with VHDL/SystemVerilog.
• Collaborate with Systems, Hardware, and Software teams to resolve integration challenges.
• Create robust VHDL-based designs and document all deliverables.
• Maintain configuration and revision control for FPGA projects.
• Provide regular progress reports to stakeholders.
• Utilize Mentor Graphics tools (HDL Designer, ModelSim/Questa, Precision) effectively.
• Apply Xilinx, Intel/Altera, or Microsemi design flows (ISE, Vivado, Quartus).
• Define timing and area constraints for optimal place‑and‑route.
• Conduct independent verification and manage FPGA requirements.
• Make technical decisions, mitigate risks, and coordinate daily activities.
• Debug FPGA designs and support hardware/system‑level integration.
• Write technical reports and documentation.
• Develop safety‑critical FPGA per RTCA/DO‑254 standards (desirable).
• Integrate embedded processor cores (e.g., ARM) in FPGA designs (desirable).

Requirements

Candidates must have at least five years of experience developing FPGA using VHDL or Verilog, be proficient with Mentor Graphics tools (HDL Designer, ModelSim/Questa, Precision), and be familiar with Xilinx, Intel/Altera, or Microsemi design flows (ISE, Vivado, Quartus) and third‑party synthesis tools. Additional mandatory skills include specifying timing and area constraints, independent verification, FPGA requirements capture, version control, technical decision‑making and risk mitigation, coordination of daily technical activities, strong oral and written communication, analysis of system/hardware requirements, debugging, high‑speed serial protocol experience, Linux scripting, and technical report writing.

Desirable experience includes developing real‑time, safety‑critical FPGA in line with RTCA/DO‑254 DAL A or B, independent verification using SystemVerilog/UVM, background in aerospace or defence, integration of embedded processor cores (e.g., ARM) within FPGA designs, familiarity with the latest FPGA device families, and practical agile methodology experience.

The role is based in Edinburgh, UK. Required qualifications are an honours degree or equivalent in Electronics Engineering or a related STEM discipline, UK citizenship for security clearance, and a current SC clearance is advantageous.

• Possess 5+ years of FPGA development experience with VHDL/Verilog.
• Communicate clearly both orally and in writing.
• Work with high‑speed serial protocols and Linux scripting.
• Perform verification using SystemVerilog/UVM (desirable).
• Experience in aerospace or defence sectors (desirable).
• Familiarity with latest FPGA families and agile methodology (desirable).

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance