FPGA Engineer

Job Title

FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Design, implement, and validate advanced digital systems with emphasis on FPGA development for radar testbed systems. Work includes HDL architecture design, simulation and verification, prototype integration, PCB bring-up, and field testing.

Position supports RF and optical testbed systems used for data collection and experimental test assets; the role spans digital design, hardware integration, and test operations.

Experience Level

Mid-level — typically requires about 5+ years of relevant digital/FPGA and radar systems design experience.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include delivering FPGA-based digital systems and supporting hardware from specification through field testing.

• Translate functional/algorithmic specifications into optimized VHDL/Verilog HDL architectures.
• Develop and run functional and timing simulations, test benches, and verification flows.
• Integrate FPGA designs into prototypes and full hardware systems; perform bring-up and debug.
• Design and test supporting PCBs including power distribution and digital control; perform schematic capture and component selection.
• Use lab test equipment (RF signal generators, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers) to diagnose and resolve defects.
• Collaborate with system engineers on RF/digital receiver architectures and signal processing timing.
• Maintain detailed design documentation and present results to stakeholders.
• Participate in field experiments and data collection; support occasional domestic and international travel.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, clearance, and hands-on experience needed to perform the role.

• 5+ years of relevant design experience; hands-on radar systems design, system realization, and field testing of HF and microwave radar systems.
• Strong VHDL/Verilog skills and experience with Xilinx toolflows (Vivado/ISE, ISIM, EDK) and FPGA development in embedded environments.
• Experience developing HDL test benches for functional and timing simulation.
• PCB design and bring-up experience; familiarity with Altium or Mentor Graphics for schematic capture and layout.
• Practical use of RF and lab test equipment: RF signal generators, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
• Familiarity with digital receiver design, including direct-detect/RF-sampling architectures, and understanding of ADC/DAC performance tradeoffs.
• Experience with hardware interfaces and protocols: PCIe, I2C, LVDS, and serial data over fiber optics.
• Proficiency with MATLAB and software development in C/C++.
• Experience working in Windows and Linux environments and scripting with TCL.
• Active U.S. secret security clearance required.

Nice-to-have: System Generator, third-party IP experience, deeper RF/analog design expertise, and prior work on adaptive sensor array processing or real-time signal processing systems.

Education Requirements

Not specified.

About the Company

Company: CaritaTech

Engineering staffing and consulting firm providing placement and contract services for hardware, semiconductor, and embedded systems professionals, including roles in SoC/ASIC physical design and verification.