Embedded FPGA Engineer

Job Title

Embedded FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Design, implement, optimize, and validate FPGA-based digital signal processing (DSP) components for embedded SOSA/VPX systems. Work on RF signal processing applications using modern FPGAs and toolchains as part of a cross-functional engineering team.

Deliver production-capable FPGA IP and integrate designs with software, firmware, and system-level architectures; contribute to testing, documentation, and engineering process improvements.

Experience Level

Mid-level — typically requires 3+ years of FPGA or SDR engineering experience.

Responsibilities

Primary duties include designing and deploying FPGA-based DSP systems and supporting system integration and verification.

• Design and implement FPGA DSP blocks using HDL, Vitis HLS, and modern FPGA toolchains.
• Translate DSP algorithms (filtering, detection, synchronization, modulation/demodulation, transforms) into high-throughput, resource-efficient hardware.
• Integrate FPGA designs with software, firmware, and larger system architectures.
• Test, verify, and validate designs for functional correctness and real-time performance.
• Optimize implementations for timing, area, power, and throughput using HLS directives and traditional flows.
• Develop reusable hardware IP blocks and scalable DSP pipelines.
• Maintain design documentation: block diagrams, interface definitions, design notes, and user guides.
• Identify and evaluate techniques or tools that improve FPGA development efficiency or system capability.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, tools, and clearance eligibility.

• Minimum 3 years of experience developing FPGA or SDR solutions.
• Proficient with HDL (Verilog, VHDL, SystemVerilog) and/or HLS-based workflows.
• Experience with Xilinx ecosystems (Vitis, Vivado) and related flows (simulation, synthesis, timing, implementation); familiarity with TCL scripting.
• Programming/modeling experience with Python, C++ (embedded), or MATLAB for DSP development.
• Experience in Linux/UNIX development environments and scripting.
• Solid knowledge of digital design fundamentals: streaming architectures, pipelining, buffering, and datapath timing.
• Able to read hardware schematics and use lab equipment (logic analyzer, oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer).
• Familiarity with Agile processes and tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance.

Nice-to-have

• Experience prototyping DSP algorithms in hardware or optimizing C/C++ for HLS translation.
• Experience with SOSA/VPX systems and vendor RF transceiver reference designs.
• RF testing experience and familiarity with high-speed interfaces (AXI-Stream, AXI-Lite, DMA).
• Experience with GPU acceleration, parallel computing, or high-bandwidth data processing.
• Experience with AI-driven or agentic engineering workflows for FPGA design and automation.

Education Requirements

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