FPGA Engineer

Job Summary The Principal/Senior FPGA Engineer will be responsible for leading development of complex RF/microwave systems facilitated by FPGA technology for utilization in cyber, DoD communications, and commercial communications solutions. The applicant must have extensive experience in the design, analysis, simulation, and testing of FPGA firmware/software, specifically applied to 3GPP based systems. This position will work closely with antenna engineers on state-of-the-art phased array antennas, so a solid foundational understanding is needed of multi-channel, phase coherent applications including Electronic Beam Steering (EBS). Additionally, the position will apply open standards for Digital RF data and control including VITA49.2, O-RAN 7.2, eCPRI, IEEE1914.3. A successful candidate will be capable of making technical presentations to peers, program leadership, and customers and assist in new business development. Responsibilities The candidate will provide technical leadership, subject matter expertise and individual execution within engineering projects requiring design, prototyping, analysis, testing, and integration of FPGA firmware/software for RF/microwave and 5G systems into multi-disciplinary engineering solutions. These solutions will be deployed around the world and provide essential capabilities to operators in a wide variety of domains including communications, signal intelligence, and cyber. Travel may be required. Responsibilities include: Ability to work independently, as well as direct and coordinate work of multi-disciplinary engineering teams to assure the successful development of FPGA based RF systems and assemblies. Participate and foster the collaborative team culture of design through rigorous and iterative modeling, simulation, and measurement. Mentor and train junior and mid-level engineers. Engineering design process development and maturation Customer and sub-contractor coordination Leading the creation of technical content for proposals and white papers Create technical documentation, test plans and reports. Conduct experiments and testing in both a laboratory and field environment. Key Qualifications Ability to obtain/maintain a government security clearance (Must be a Sole US Citizen) Education and Experience A successful candidate will have one of the following sets of education and experience: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (EE) or related field 8 years of experience Master’s degree in EE or related field + 5 years of experience PhD in EE or related field + 2 years of experience Expertise and Competencies 8+ years of experience are required in the following skills: FPGA development for communications and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) applications Implementing Electronic Beam Steering (EBS) and Direction Finding (DF) functionality on an FPGA Writing FPGA firmware using VHDL and Verilog Software development in C or C++ Evaluation and integration third-party intellectual property and debugging cores into FPGA based solutions. FPGA firmware/software development utilizing a combination of FPGA fabric and embedded processor cores. Testing using standard EE and RF/microwave equipment such as vector network analyzers, power meters, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, noise sources, multimeter, and signal sources. Technical writing for documents like proposals, white papers, test plans and reports Leadership of technical teams comprised of more than 3 people. Experience in the following skills: Digital I/Q streaming protocols including eCPRI, IEEE1914.3 or similar Digital RF architectures including VITA49.2, O-RAN 7.2 FPGA development for 3GPP compliant remote radio heads or radio units. Preferably using Open Radio Access Networks (O-RAN) standards Preferred Qualifications Hands-on experience with the Xilinx RFSoC or equivalent Use and/or design of FPGA-based Software Defined Radio (SDR) platforms. Experience using MATLAB for analysis and design of DSP or related data processing systems. Extensive experience and/or course work in electromagnetic theory and its applications including antenna design. Microwave/RF system, subsystem and component analysis, design, prototyping, testing and/or integration. Designing RF/microwave features including frequency conversion, automatic gain control, custom amplification circuits, matching networks, and filters Creating and/or working with RF/microwave link budgets to drive system requirements. ECAD design experience using software suites such as Mentor Xpedition and PADS, Cadence Virtuoso and Allegro, and Altium Designer Hands-on experience with RF/microwave modeling tools such as HFSS, CST, Genesys, ADS, AWR Familiarity with the setup and operation of 3GPP communications systems Benefits Balance life through a compressed work schedule: Most of our team follows a flexible, compressed work schedule that allows for every other Friday off—giving you a dedicated day to accomplish things in your personal life without using vacation time. Take time to recharge: You get paid time off to support work-life balance and keep motivated. Prioritize wellness: Stay healthy with medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness incentives and benefits plus a variety of optional supplemental benefits. Better together: Coverage for partners, gender-affirming care and health support, and family formation support. Build your financial future: Build financial stability with an industry-leading 401(k) retirement savings plan. For most employees, we put in 5 percent whether you contribute or not, and match your contributions on top of that. Advance your education: Tuition assistance is available to pursue higher education. Flexible work arrangements: You have options for where you work and when you work. Work Environment For brilliant minds in science, technology, engineering and business operations, Battelle is the place to do the greatest good by solving humanity’s most pressing challenges and creating a safer, healthier and more secure world. You will have the opportunity to thrive in a culture that inspires you to apply your talent to challenging and meaningful projects, receive select funding to pursue ideas, collaborate with world-class experts in an inclusive environment, nurture and develop the next generation of scientific leaders, and give back to and improve our communities. Vaccinations & Safety Protocols Battelle may require employees, based on job duties, work location, and/or its clients’ requirements to follow certain safety protocols and to be vaccinated against a variety of viruses, bacteria, and diseases as a condition of employment and continued employment and to provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated. If applicable, Battelle will provide reasonable accommodations based on a qualified disability or medical condition through the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Rehabilitation Act or for a sincerely held religious belief under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (and related state laws). Battelle is an equal opportunity employer. We provide employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran-status veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Our goal is for each staff member to have the opportunity to grow to the limits of their abilities and to achieve personal and organizational objectives. We will support positive programs for equal treatment of all staff and full utilization of all qualified employees at all levels within Battelle. The above statements are intended to describe the nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, activities and skills required of staff members. No statement herein is intended to imply any authorities to commit Battelle unless special written permission is granted by Battelle's Legal Department. For more information about our other openings, please visit #J-18808-Ljbffr Battelle Memorial Institute