FPGA Engineer

Job Title

FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Design, implement, verify, and validate FPGA-based digital logic for aerospace and defense electronic systems across the full development lifecycle: architecture, RTL coding, simulation, synthesis, and lab validation.

Work on embedded computing platforms in a collaborative R&D environment with hardware, firmware, and software teams to deliver real-time, reliable FPGA solutions.

Experience Level

Mid-level — requires approximately 5+ years of FPGA design and development experience in aerospace, defense, or embedded systems.

Responsibilities

Primary duties include design, verification, and integration of FPGA IP and subsystems.

• Develop RTL using VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog for DSP, memory controllers, data acquisition, and high-speed interfaces.
• Perform simulation, synthesis, timing analysis, and place-and-route using industry toolchains.
• Integrate FPGA functionality with system architectures and software teams; define constraints and register maps.
• Validate performance via bench testing, logic analysis, and hardware debugging.
• Support documentation, version control, configuration management, and product release activities.
• Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, and system-level integration and test.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to meet real-time and performance requirements.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and practical experience for immediate contribution.

• Proven RTL development experience in VHDL or Verilog/SystemVerilog for complex designs.
• Hands-on experience with Xilinx or Intel/Altera FPGAs and toolchains (e.g., Vivado, Quartus).
• Familiarity with simulation and verification tools (ModelSim or equivalent) and timing closure workflows.
• Experience with high-speed interfaces such as PCIe, DDR, Ethernet, JESD204, or similar.
• Knowledge of clock domain crossing, reset synchronization, and power-up sequencing practices.
• Practical lab skills using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and hardware debugging techniques.
• Scripting for automation and test using TCL, Python, or MATLAB.
• Experience performing synthesis, timing analysis, and place-and-route for production designs.
• Ability to work independently, communicate across disciplines, and manage design tasks.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with DO-254, MIL-STD, or other regulated development processes.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field is required; Master’s degree preferred. (The posting specifies degree fields: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related.)

About the Company

Company: Spectra Defense Technologies

Headquarters: Las Cruces, NM, USA

Aerospace and defense electronics company focused on R&D, hardware engineering, and system integration for mission-critical embedded computing and FPGA-based solutions, including high-speed interfaces and regulated development practices.