FPGA Engineer

Job Title

FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Design, develop, and test FPGA-based RF capabilities and software-defined radio (SDR) systems in support of government research and development programs. Work on end-to-end FPGA solutions, integrate with RF hardware, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary engineering team in a hands-on lab environment.

Experience Level

Senior-level — requires 7+ years of relevant professional experience, including developing SDR solutions and RF signal processing.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities focus on FPGA design, verification, integration with RF systems, and embedded real-time processing.

• Design and implement RTL for FPGA targets (VHDL or Verilog).
• Perform simulation and verification using tools such as ModelSim or Questa.
• Debug at the board and system level and support system integration activities.
• Interface FPGA designs with RF hardware and implement SDR functionality.
• Develop and test embedded and real-time processing components that run with FPGA systems.
• Collaborate with engineers across hardware, firmware, and software to deliver integrated solutions.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, security eligibility, and relevant experience.

• Ability to obtain and maintain DOD Top Secret SCI clearance.
• 7+ years working on FPGA and SDR development, including RF signal processing experience.
• Proficiency in VHDL or Verilog and RTL design methodologies.
• Experience with FPGA toolchains such as Xilinx (Vivado) or Intel/Altera toolflows.
• Proficiency in C/C++ and MATLAB for algorithm development and verification.
• Experience with version control (Git) and Linux environments (e.g., RedHat, Rocky Linux).
• Hands-on experience with embedded hardware and real-time system integration.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with DSP algorithms and digital RF sampling, modulation, error correction, or compression.
• Experience with Xilinx SoC/RFSoC integrated solutions (embedded processor + FPGA fabric).
• Background in C5ISR, EW, SIGINT, or communications systems.

Education Requirements

Source indicates a Bachelor's degree is required; a high school diploma or GED is noted as the minimum. Preferred fields: Bachelor's in Engineering or Computer Science. (No mention of specific certifications or explicit "equivalent experience" substitution.)

About the Company

Company: Apex Systems

Headquarters: Glen Allen, Virginia, United States

Apex Systems is a global IT staffing and workforce solutions firm that provides consulting, contract, and permanent placement services, along with training, benefits, and career development resources for technology and business professionals.