Embedded FPGA Engineer

Job Title

Embedded FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Design and implement FPGA-based DSP functions for SOSA/VPX embedded systems, integrating with software, firmware, and hardware teams. Work involves HDL, Vitis HLS, algorithm optimization, and deployment on modern FPGA platforms.

Position is on an engineering team delivering RF signal-processing applications on embedded platforms; requires independent problem solving and cross-functional collaboration.

Experience Level

Mid-level — minimum 3+ years of FPGA or SDR development experience.

Responsibilities

Primary duties:

• Design and implement FPGA-based DSP systems using HDL, Vitis HLS, and FPGA toolchains.
• Develop and optimize DSP algorithms (filtering, detection, synchronization, modulation/demodulation, transforms) into resource-efficient, high-throughput hardware blocks.
• Collaborate with software, firmware, and system engineers to integrate FPGA designs into larger architectures.
• Test, verify, and validate FPGA designs to ensure correctness and real-time performance.
• Optimize designs for timing, area, power, and throughput using HLS directives and traditional FPGA workflows.
• Develop reusable hardware IP blocks and maintain design documentation (block diagrams, interfaces, user guides).
• Identify and evaluate new tools and techniques to improve FPGA development efficiency and system capability.

Requirements

Must-have skills and qualifications:

• 3+ years developing FPGA or SDR solutions.
• Proficiency with Verilog, VHDL, SystemVerilog, or HLS and the full FPGA toolflow (simulation, synthesis, implementation, timing analysis, debug).
• Experience with Xilinx toolchains (Vitis, Vivado) and scripting (Tcl).
• Experience with Python, C++ (embedded), or MATLAB for DSP modeling and algorithm development.
• Familiarity with Linux/UNIX development environments and scripting.
• Understanding 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 (Jira, Confluence).
• Ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance; selected applicants will undergo a security investigation.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience implementing or prototyping DSP algorithms in hardware and optimizing C/C++ for HLS translation.
• Experience with SOSA/VPX platforms and porting vendor RF transceiver reference designs to FPGA boards.
• RF testing experience and familiarity with high-speed interfaces (AXI-Stream, AXI-Lite, DMA, custom streaming buses).
• Experience with GPU acceleration, parallel computing, or high-bandwidth data processing.
• Familiarity with AI-driven automation for FPGA design, simulation, synthesis, or testing.

Education Requirements

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