FPGA Firmware Engineer

FPGA Firmware Engineer

Location: Westminster, CO
Job Type: Full-Time

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced FPGA Firmware Engineer to lead the design, development, and verification of FPGA-based digital systems and embedded firmware supporting advanced electro-optical, infrared, and high-performance sensing technologies.

This role is responsible for FPGA logic design, embedded firmware development, hardware integration, and system validation across complex embedded platforms. The ideal candidate will have experience working with adaptive SoCs, high-speed interfaces, image or signal processing systems, and mission-critical hardware environments. You will collaborate closely with electrical, software, mechanical, and systems engineering teams throughout the full product lifecycle, from architecture and development through testing and deployment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and verify FPGA logic (RTL) using VHDL and/or Verilog for advanced sensing and data-processing systems.
• Develop embedded firmware for adaptive SoCs, microcontrollers, device drivers, boot systems, and hardware interfaces.
• Design, implement, and support sensor and detector interfaces, including timing, control, calibration, and data acquisition functions.
• Develop and optimize high-speed data interfaces and onboard signal-processing pipelines.
• Support hardware bring-up, debugging, integration, and validation activities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure reliable system performance and successful product delivery.
• Integrate and validate third-party IP cores, software components, and hardware technologies.
• Maintain traceability between design implementations and system requirements.
• Execute verification and validation activities including simulation, testbench development, timing analysis, timing closure, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Evaluate architecture tradeoffs and contribute to processor, FPGA, interface, and subsystem design decisions.
• Document technical designs, test results, and engineering recommendations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience developing FPGA logic and embedded firmware for high-reliability embedded systems.
• Strong experience with:
  • VHDL and/or Verilog
  • FPGA design and verification methodologies
  • Timing analysis and timing closure
• Experience using AMD/Xilinx development environments such as Vivado, Vitis, and industry-standard simulation tools.
• Embedded firmware development experience using C and C++.
• Experience with adaptive SoC platforms such as AMD Versal, Zynq, Zynq UltraScale+, or comparable architectures.
• Knowledge of high-speed digital interfaces, sensor integration, and FPGA-based digital signal processing.
• Experience performing hardware bring-up, board-level debugging, and system integration.
• Familiarity with laboratory test equipment including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting electro-optical, infrared, imaging, or sensor-based systems.
• Experience working in aerospace, defense, space, or other mission-critical engineering environments.
• Knowledge of radiation-tolerant or radiation-hardened electronic systems and fault mitigation techniques.
• Familiarity with spacecraft or airborne communications and data-handling standards.
• Experience implementing image processing, video processing, compression algorithms, or machine learning inference on FPGA platforms.
• Knowledge of hardware and firmware assurance standards such as DO-254, NASA software standards, or similar engineering frameworks.
• Experience supporting government-funded research and development programs.

Skills

• FPGA Design and Verification
• Embedded Firmware Development
• VHDL / Verilog
• C/C++
• AMD Versal, Zynq, and Adaptive SoC Architectures
• Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
• Hardware Integration and Debugging
• High-Speed Data Interfaces
• Real-Time Embedded Systems
• System Validation and Testing

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Retirement savings program
• Professional development opportunities
• Collaborative engineering environment focused on innovation and technical excellence