Associate FPGA / ASIC Design Engineer - Summer 2027

Job Title

Associate FPGA / ASIC Design Engineer - Summer 2027

Role Summary

Join MITRE’s Electronic Systems Development team to design and prototype FPGA- and ASIC-based embedded systems that support national research projects. Work includes hardware and firmware development, system integration, and lab-based prototype bring-up for sensor, communication, and navigation applications.

Experience Level

Entry-level - typically less than 1 year of related experience; suitable for recent graduates.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities focus on design, implementation, and testing of prototype hardware and firmware on embedded platforms.

• Develop FPGA and ASIC components and RTL implementations.
• Implement algorithms in hardware and software on embedded systems.
• Integrate, test, and debug custom prototypes in the lab.
• Execute simulation, synthesis, and implementation flows for FPGA/ASIC designs.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams and support system bring-up on SDR and SoC platforms.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and eligibility requirements.

• Solid understanding of digital system design at the Boolean logic level.
• Solid understanding of basic circuits and electronic principles.
• Working knowledge of one or more HDLs (VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog).
• Exposure to FPGA or ASIC simulation, synthesis, and implementation tools.
• Experience with programming in C/C++ and Python.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense SECRET clearance (US citizenship required).
• Available to work on-site at the Bedford, MA campus a minimum of four days per week.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with reconfigurable SoC platforms (e.g., Xilinx MPSoC/RFSoC, Versal, Intel Agilex).
• Familiarity with ASIC/FPGA EDA tools (synthesis, timing closure, place & route, emulation).
• Experience deploying designs on FPGA or SDR platforms from RTL through lab bring-up and debug.
• Familiarity with scripting and build tools (TCL, Python, CMake) and signal processing/MATLAB.
• Exposure to AI/ML concepts and modern process nodes/foundries.

Education Requirements

Required: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field - or an equivalent combination of related education and work experience. Preferred: Master’s degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or similar. The posting indicates this role typically expects less than one year of related experience.

About the Company

Company: MITRE

Headquarters: Bedford, Massachusetts, United States

MITRE is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to solving national challenges in defense, cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, and more. By partnering with the government, MITRE operates R&D centers that develop innovative solutions for public interest. Known for its culture of innovation, it offers exceptional employee benefits, professional growth opportunities, and diversity initiatives to ensure a fulfilling workplace for its staff.