Associate FPGA Engineer

Job Title

Associate FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Develop FPGA-based digital logic and onboard avionics solutions for small satellites. Work with hardware and systems teams through design, prototype bring-up, debugging, verification, and production.

Implement and verify RTL, integrate SoC IP, support board-level design reviews, and contribute to hardware architecture and system engineering decisions.

Experience Level

Entry-level (Associate). Years of experience: not specified.

Responsibilities

Deliver FPGA designs and support hardware lifecycle activities from prototype to production.

• Design, implement, and verify VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog RTL and top-level block diagrams for FPGA SoCs.
• Create device constraints, perform synthesis, place-and-route, generate device images, and manage compilation reports in Vivado and Libero.
• Perform static timing analysis and achieve timing closure; investigate and disposition compilation warnings.
• Support initial board bring-up, lab testing, debugging, and performance characterization on development kits and custom hardware.
• Develop test scripts and embedded software (Linux and bare-metal) to validate hardware function during bring-up and verification.
• Use schematics, datasheets, and design requirements to document FPGA solutions for control and dataflow applications.
• Provide FPGA-focused reviews of schematics and PCB designs (pin assignments, clocks, resets, high-speed interfaces).
• Participate in make-vs-buy trade studies, IP integration, and board/unit-level design reviews.

Requirements

Core technical skills, security and citizenship requirements, plus source control and embedded software familiarity.

• Must-have:
• Proficiency coding structural and behavioral architectures in VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog.
• Experience with AMD Xilinx Vivado and Microchip Libero design flows, including SoC block diagram integration and third-party IP.
• Experience using Git for source control.
• Familiarity with programming for verification and validation: C, C++, and Python.
• High proficiency in oral and written technical communication.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
• Nice-to-have:
• Industry experience with FPGA design and satellite avionics.
• Active U.S. DoD security clearance (Secret or higher) highly desirable.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) or related area. Academic coursework or internship experience with FPGAs may be considered in lieu of industry FPGA experience.

About the Company

Company: Airbus U.S. Space & Defense

Headquarters: Herndon, VA, United States

U.S. subsidiary of Airbus providing advanced defense, security, and space solutions for government and commercial customers, including satellites, laser communications, rotorcraft, and fixed-wing systems. Partners with U.S. national security and space programs.