Firmware FPGA Engineer

At EMCORE, we're committed to attracting and nurturing diverse, high-performing talent who are passionate about their work. Our employees share a common purpose-supporting our customers' missions while pursuing their own professional growth. We foster an inclusive and engaging workplace culture where innovation, collaboration, and work-life balance thrive. Core to our values is a steadfast commitment to excellence, community engagement, and integrity in everything we do .

About EMCORE

EMCORE LLC is a leading independent provider of advanced inertial navigation solutions for the aerospace, defense, commercial, and industrial sectors. As pioneers in fiber optic gyros, ring laser gyros, and MEMS technologies, we drive innovation across a wide range of navigation applications.

Firmware FPGA Engineer

Location: Concord, CA; On-site only position.

Job Type: Full Time

Department: Engineering

Job Description:

We are seeking a skilled Firmware FPGA Engineer to join our team and contribute to the design, development, and implementation of FPGA-based solutions for high-performance systems. The ideal candidate will have experience in hardware description languages (HDLs), digital design, and FPGA architecture, with a strong problem-solving mindset.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and test FPGA firmware using VHDL or Verilog.
• Optimize FPGA-based solutions for high-speed processing applications.
• Work with industry-standard FPGA development tools (Vivado, Quartus, ModelSim, etc.). Utilize SoC tools like Microsemi-Libero IDE.
• Architect SoC solutions based on project requirements.
• Conduct simulation, verification, and debugging of FPGA designs.
• Implement embedded software for FPGA-based systems.
• Collaborate with software, hardware and systems teams to ensure seamless integration of FPGA components.
• Support system integration with hardware bring-up, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Debug and troubleshoot FPGA and firmware-related issues.
• Optimize performance, power, and resource utilization for FPGA implementations.
• Develop and maintain documentation for FPGA designs, implementations, and test results.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Perform a wide range of complex engineering work with minimal supervision.
• Design mixed signal hardware circuits including FPGAs, CPLDs, ADCs / DACs, microprocessor and DSP processor circuits, clock circuits, filters, communication interfaces (Ethernet, SPI, PCI, I2C, etc.), and high-speed memory circuits (DDR).
• Develop firmware using the full life cycle of hardware products from concept to production.
• Decompose requirements and ensure traceability to digital design verification tests.
• Implement FPGA algorithms and digital signal processing components (Digital filters, transforms, multipliers, mathematical operations).
• Route designs using best practices to ensure signal integrity and timing are maintained for circuits containing both high frequency and noisy signals.
• Use test equipment including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, multimeters, and temperature chambers to debug issues.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering.
• Minimum 10 years' experience in FPGA design/simulation, firmware development, and embedded systems.
• Proficiency in VHDL or Verilog for FPGA design.
• Experience with FPGA development tools (Xilinx Vivado, Actel (Microsemi), Altera Quartus, etc.) and SoC devices (MicroChip PolarFire).
• Strong understanding of embedded systems and real-time programming.
• Familiarity with C/C++ for firmware development.
• Experience with signal processing, high-speed communication interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, SPI, etc.).
• Ability to design and implement advanced DSP algorithms.
• Knowledge of FPGA verification and testing methodologies.
• Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio).

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with SoC FPGA architecture.
• Development utilizing AI/ML acceleration.
• Proficiency in programming languages like C/C++ and Python.
• Knowledge in MATLAB for simulation and analysis.
• Familiarity with hardware debugging tools (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, etc.).
• Understanding of inertial navigation systems.

This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions that an employee in this position may be asked to perform from time to time. EMCORE reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises

If you're passionate about FPGA design and ready to work on cutting-edge projects, we'd like to hear from you! Apply today and be part of an innovative team.

Compensation:

This position offers a salary range of $130,000 - $165,000 annually,  depending on the candidate's experience, skill set, and overall qualifications.

Benefits:

EMCORE LLC offers a variety of benefits including health and disability insurance, 401k company match, FSA account, Employee Assistance Program, education assistance, parental leave, PTO, and paid company holidays.

*As a federal contractor, we are required to have all candidates/employees pass a criminal background check, prior to starting employment.

*ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

Separate from employment eligibility (Form I-9), U.S. export license requirements may apply before the Company can provide certain non-"U.S. persons" with access to specific technology, software and hardware that may be necessary for a position. As such, this position may require ITAR or EAR clearance.

EMCORE LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, or veteran status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Emcore LLC is a Federal Contractor and requires any candidate offered employment to submit to a background check when a job offer is accepted.