Embedded FPGA Engineer

Job Title

Embedded FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Design, implement, and validate FPGA-based digital signal processing (DSP) functions on embedded SOSA/VPX systems. Work on RF signal processing applications using modern FPGAs and integrate FPGA designs with software, firmware, and broader system architectures.

Position operates on an engineering team supporting embedded, real-time platforms; responsibilities include development, optimization, documentation, and deployment of reusable hardware IP and DSP pipelines.

Experience Level

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

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include design, implementation, verification, and optimization of FPGA-based DSP systems.

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

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and clearance eligibility; education requirements are listed separately below.

• Minimum ~3 years of FPGA or SDR development experience.
• Experience with Python, C++, MATLAB, or similar languages used for DSP modeling.
• Hands-on FPGA design experience with Verilog, VHDL, SystemVerilog, or HLS and tools for simulation, synthesis, timing analysis, and debug.
• Familiarity with Xilinx toolchains (Vitis, Vivado) and FPGA development ecosystems; scripting experience (e.g., Tcl).
• Experience in Linux/UNIX development and scripting environments.
• Practical knowledge of digital design fundamentals: streaming architectures, pipelining, buffering, and data-path timing.
• Ability to read hardware schematics and use lab equipment (logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers).
• Experience with Agile processes and tools such as Jira and Confluence.
• Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance (security investigation required).

Nice-to-have:

• Experience implementing or prototyping DSP algorithms in hardware and making HLS-friendly algorithm/code changes.
• Experience with SOSA/VPX systems and vendor RF transceiver reference designs (RTL, IP cores, drivers).
• Experience with RF testing, high-speed digital interfaces (AXI-Stream, AXI-Lite, DMA), GPU acceleration, or high-bandwidth data processing.
• Familiarity with AI-driven or agentic workflows that accelerate FPGA design, simulation, synthesis, or testing.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering is required. A Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field is preferred.

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.