FPGA Engineer

Job Title

FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Design, implement, and test FPGA-based digital systems for phased-array ground stations, focusing on data transport and signal processing to enable reliable satellite communications. The role spans prototype development, verification, field testing, and operational support for deployed systems.

Experience Level

Mid-level — 2 to 4+ years of professional experience.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include:

• Design, implement, and test high-rate networking and DSP blocks on FPGAs for parallel data processing.
• Develop, verify, and integrate FPGA SoC designs with system hardware.
• Lead multi-disciplinary projects from initial design and prototype through shipment and operations.
• Define system architectures, perform trade studies, and derive system requirements.
• Analyze field test performance data, diagnose in-field issues, and drive product improvements.
• Use lab equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers) to debug high-speed FPGA designs.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and conditions:

• 2–4+ years of professional experience in FPGA or digital design.
• Expert in Verilog and SystemVerilog.
• Experience with DSP and/or networking implementations on FPGAs.
• Experience with FPGA SoCs and embedded integration.
• Proficiency with Python for development, testing, or automation.
• Hands-on experience using lab instrumentation to debug high-speed designs.
• Onsite presence preferred; hybrid arrangement (mostly remote with some travel to the Torrance/Los Angeles office) is acceptable.
• Must meet U.S. export-control eligibility (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual, or able to obtain required authorizations).

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with High-Level Synthesis (HLS).
• Experience with C++ or Rust.
• Experience with high-performance PCBA architecture and FPGA-based system design.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field is stated (posting specifies "Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent field").

About the Company

Company: Northwood Space

Headquarters: Torrance, CA, USA

Space systems company developing antenna systems and space communications hardware, specializing in FPGA-based real-time signal processing and satellite communication links.