FPGA Design & Validation Engineer

Job Title

FPGA Design & Validation Engineer

Role Summary

Design, implement, and validate FPGA firmware and supporting hardware for rugged, high-reliability instruments used in harsh environments (e.g., downhole, subsea, industrial). The role leads hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, timing and functional verification, and documentation to support certification and field deployment.

This is an engineering role focused on robust digital design, lab validation, and production-ready verification rather than exploratory research.

Experience Level

Mid-level — typically requires 3+ years of FPGA development experience.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include design, verification, and validation across firmware and hardware domains.

• Develop synthesizable VHDL code optimized for low power and high-temperature stability for ruggedized applications.
• Lead hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and lab testing to reproduce harsh field conditions using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers (ILA/SignalTap), and thermal chambers.
• Perform functional and timing verification, including post-synthesis and post-layout checks using simulators and static timing tools.
• Design and validate high-speed memory interfaces (DDR3/DDR4) with error correction (ECC) for large-scale data logging.
• Develop and test communication bridges and interfaces (Modbus, Ethernet/IP, CAN, proprietary links, or mud-pulse telemetry).
• Debug hardware-software integration and perform power analysis for battery-operated or power-limited systems.
• Maintain detailed test plans, validation records, and documentation to support safety and compliance efforts.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience below. Nice-to-have items are listed separately.

• 3+ years of hands-on FPGA development experience.
• Expert proficiency in VHDL.
• Expert use of at least one FPGA toolchain (Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus, Lattice toolchain, or Microchip Libero).
• Practical lab expertise with high-speed digital probing, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and debugging HW/SW interfaces.
• Experience with DDR3/DDR4 memory interfaces and implementing ECC.
• Experience with ADC/DAC interfacing and high-speed serial I/O (e.g., JESD204B or LVDS).
• Experience performing post-synthesis/post-layout verification and timing closure activities.
• Understanding of design constraints for battery-operated or power-limited remote systems and power-analysis workflows.
• Strong analytical and root-cause debugging skills in multi-disciplinary systems.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with triple modular redundancy (TMR) and other high-reliability design techniques.
• Experience with industrial automation, subsea electronics, or downhole tools and survival at elevated temperatures (~150°C).
• Familiarity with specific tools such as Xilinx Power Estimator (XPE) and thermal-chamber validation workflows.

Education Requirements

B.E. or M.Tech in Electrical, Electronics, or Instrumentation Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

About the Company

Company: PSRTEK

PSRTEK is a technology recruitment and IT staffing firm with a global footprint, providing talent acquisition, staffing solutions, and innovation-focused services to clients across industries.