FPGA Engineer

Job Title

FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Join a multi-disciplinary engineering team to develop FPGA-based systems from requirements and algorithm modeling through VHDL implementation, simulation, place-and-route, and laboratory integration. Work closely with circuit card designers and systems engineers on high-reliability designs for Xilinx, Intel/Altera, and Microsemi devices.

Experience Level

Mid-level — requires 5+ years of relevant engineering experience and an active Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities cover the full FPGA development lifecycle and verification:

• Develop VHDL designs and testbenches for multiple FPGA vendors and device families (Xilinx, Intel/Altera, Microsemi).
• Collaborate on requirements definition, algorithm modeling, architecture, and partitioning with systems and math teams.
• Drive implementation through synthesis, place-and-route, timing closure, and resource optimization.
• Implement and debug high-speed serial interfaces, DSP for RF/EO applications, controls, data links, and embedded processors.
• Verify designs using simulation tools and perform hardware bring-up and integration testing in the lab (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers).
• Coordinate pinout, signal integrity constraints, and power requirements with circuit card designers.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, experience, and clearance status:

• Active Secret security clearance (required for hire).
• 5+ years of relevant software/firmware/FPGA engineering experience.
• Expert-level VHDL for RTL and testbench development.
• Hands-on experience with toolchains such as AMD/Xilinx Vivado, Intel/Altera Quartus, and Microsemi Libero.
• Proven experience completing full P&R flow, closing timing, and optimizing resource utilization.
• Practical experience with gigabit serial interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, or custom SerDes) and high-speed protocols.
• Experience implementing DSP algorithms for RF or electro-optical systems.
• Experience designing embedded processing blocks and interfaces (ARM/MicroBlaze, AXI, SPI, I2C).
• Familiarity with simulation/verification tools (ModelSim, Questa) and hands-on lab debugging.
• Ability to collaborate across systems, circuit design, and math teams to translate requirements into FPGA architectures.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) — listed as a requirement in the source posting.

About the Company

Company: Associates Systems

Engineering and technical services firm providing FPGA, software-defined radio (SDR), and RF communications solutions and support for government, defense, and commercial customers.