FPGA Developer

Job Title

FPGA Developer

Role Summary

Design, implement, and test FPGA-based processing architectures for next-generation satellite and spacecraft subsystems. Work on digital design, verification, and system integration to meet demanding space and mission requirements.

Collaborate with cross-discipline engineering teams, provide technical guidance, and translate system-level requirements into robust, deployable hardware implementations that support national defense missions.

Experience Level

Senior — requires typically 7+ years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree or 5+ years with a Master's degree as specified in the posting.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Design, implement, synthesize, and test FPGA designs for signal-processing and subsystem functions.
• Implement DSP algorithms in synthesizable HDL and optimize for on-board performance.
• Perform RTL verification, hardware bring-up, and system integration with spacecraft subsystems.
• Use FPGA toolflows (e.g., Vivado) for embedded system design and debugging.
• Operate benchtop test equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, AWGs, vector signal generators) for verification and troubleshooting.
• Support rapid prototyping, component selection, and integration with RF acquisition/generation chains.
• Provide technical guidance to cross-domain teams and document design decisions and verification results.
• Work within security-cleared environments and comply with program and spacespecific requirements.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and qualifications:

• Experience using Vivado for embedded FPGA system design.
• Strong knowledge of DSP mathematics and implementing algorithms in synthesizable HDL.
• Experience with scientific analysis tools such as MATLAB.
• Practical experience with benchtop test equipment: oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, AWGs, vector signal generators.
• Knowledge of wideband RF signal acquisition and generation and RF signal propagation chain configurations.
• Familiarity with FPGA development processes and rapid prototyping practices, including component sourcing.
• Active or eligible Secret clearance (required).

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with other FPGA toolchains (AMD Vitis, Intel Quartus).
• Experience with EDA tools for HDL/RTL simulation (ModelSim, Questa, Xcelium, VCS, Aldec).
• Knowledge of satellite design, spacespecific hardening, RADAR and EA/ES concepts, and embedded Linux/RTOS build systems (U-Boot, Yocto, BitBake).

Education Requirements

Posting specifies a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering with 7+ years of digital design/HDL experience, or a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering with 5+ years of experience. A Doctorate in EE/CE is listed as desirable.

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.