FPGA Design Engineer

Job Title

FPGA Design Engineer

Role Summary

Perform FPGA architecture, design, simulation, and test/support for embedded FPGA systems on a multidisciplinary engineering team. Work independently and with program and customer teams to deliver producible, high-quality digital hardware solutions.

The role includes hands-on design, prototype testing and debugging, design documentation, and opportunities for technical leadership and mentoring.

Experience Level

Mid-level - typically 3–5 years of relevant experience in electronic or FPGA design.

Responsibilities

Translate requirements into hardware architectures, implement and verify FPGA designs, and support prototypes through delivery and sustainment.

• Define and implement FPGA architectures and RTL (Verilog/VHDL).
• Develop and run simulations and verification testbenches; support design verification teams.
• Perform timing closure and optimize for timing, power, and area in SWaP-constrained designs.
• Integrate and validate high-speed interfaces (SERDES, PCIe, DDR2/3/4, LVDS).
• Build, debug, and test hardware prototypes in a lab environment.
• Prepare design documentation, reports, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (software, analog, system engineering) to deliver solutions.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership as a principal contributor.
• Support customer- and program-driven requirements and sustainment activities.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for immediate contribution.

• Significant hands-on FPGA design and development experience; fluent in Verilog or VHDL.
• Experience with vendor tools such as Xilinx Vivado and/or Microsemi Libero.
• Digital simulation experience using ModelSim/Questa or similar.
• Experience with timing closure and physical design considerations for constrained designs.
• Experience implementing digital signal processing algorithms in hardware.
• Experience with high-speed interfaces (SERDES, PCIe, DDR2/3/4, LVDS).
• Embedded FPGA SoC software development experience and general microprocessor/embedded computing proficiency.
• Scripting experience for build/verification flows; familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink and UVM is highly desirable.
• Strong analysis, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills; ability to work independently.
• Experience with hands-on lab debug and working with design verification teams.
• Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electronic or Electrical Engineering or a related field is required. Master's degree preferred.

About the Company

Company: Draper

Headquarters: Cambridge, MA, United States

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. With over 2,000 employees, Draper develops advanced technologies in defense, space, biomedical engineering, and other national-security and commercial domains through multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists.