Embedded FPGA Engineer

Job Title

Embedded FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Design, implement, and validate FPGA-based digital signal processing (DSP) components for embedded SOSA/VPX systems. Work on high-throughput RF signal processing applications using modern FPGA toolchains and collaborate with software, firmware, and systems engineers.

Experience Level

Mid-level — requires approximately 3+ years of relevant FPGA or SDR development experience.

Responsibilities

The role focuses on developing FPGA DSP systems, integrating with system software and firmware, and validating performance in real-time embedded environments.

• Design and implement FPGA-based DSP systems using HDL, Vitis HLS, and modern FPGA toolchains.
• Translate DSP algorithms (filtering, detection, synchronization, modulation/demodulation, transforms) into efficient hardware blocks.
• Optimize designs for timing, area, power, and throughput using HLS directives and FPGA workflows.
• Integrate FPGA designs with software, firmware, and system architectures in cross-functional teams.
• Test, verify, and validate designs under real-time constraints using simulation and lab equipment.
• Develop reusable hardware IP blocks and scalable DSP pipelines.
• Maintain design documentation: block diagrams, interfaces, user guides, and workflow notes.
• Identify and evaluate techniques and tools to improve FPGA development efficiency and DSP performance.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, security eligibility, and practical experience required to perform the role.

• Minimum 3+ years developing FPGA or SDR solutions.
• Proficiency in RTL and HLS workflows: Verilog, VHDL, SystemVerilog, and Vitis HLS; experience with simulation, synthesis, fitting, timing analysis, and debug.
• Experience with Xilinx toolchains (Vitis, Vivado) and FPGA scripting (Tcl) or equivalent vendor ecosystems.
• Experience programming and modeling DSP algorithms using Python, C/C++, Embedded C, or MATLAB.
• Experience working in Linux/UNIX development environments and writing build/test scripts.
• Solid grasp of digital design fundamentals: streaming architectures, pipelining, buffering, and datapath timing.
• Ability to read hardware schematics and operate lab equipment such as logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analyzers.
• Experience with Agile processes and tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with SOSA / VPX systems and embedded RF platforms.
• Proven experience adapting vendor RF transceiver reference designs, RTL, IP cores, and drivers to FPGA evaluation boards or custom platforms.
• Experience implementing or prototyping DSP algorithms in hardware and optimizing C/C++ for HLS translation.
• Experience with RF testing and high-speed digital interfaces (AXI-Stream, AXI-Lite, DMA).
• Familiarity with GPU acceleration, parallel computing, or high-bandwidth data processing.
• Experience with AI-driven or automated FPGA design, simulation, synthesis, or testing workflows.

Education Requirements

Required: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering. Preferred: Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.

About the Company

Company: Booz Allen & Hamilton

Headquarters: McLean, Virginia, United States

Management and technology consulting firm providing analytics, engineering, cyber, digital, and mission services to U.S. government agencies (especially defense and intelligence) and commercial clients.