FPGA Engineer III - Advanced Programs

Job Title

FPGA Engineer III - Advanced Programs

Role Summary

Lead development of FPGA-based digital subsystems for advanced Ranger spacecraft programs, from architecture through flight delivery. Work cross-functionally with avionics, RF, payload, GNC, flight software, and hardware teams on high-reliability, mission-critical embedded systems.

Experience Level

Senior — requires an experienced FPGA engineer with demonstrated responsibility for full lifecycle FPGA system development; the posting specifies 7+ years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

The role focuses on architecture, implementation, integration, verification, and flight-readiness of FPGA systems for spacecraft applications.

• Lead FPGA subsystem architecture definition and design for spacecraft avionics, communications, payload processing, timing, and embedded control.
• Design and implement firmware in VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog for AMD and Microsemi devices.
• Integrate FPGAs with embedded processors, RF systems, sensors, and board-level avionics hardware.
• Implement and validate high-speed interfaces (LVDS, SpaceWire, Gigabit Ethernet, SPI, I2C, UART, etc.).
• Develop verification environments, simulation infrastructure, and regression testing workflows.
• Perform timing analysis, timing closure, clock-domain crossing mitigation, and signal integrity activities.
• Lead hardware bring-up, debugging, root-cause analysis, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Support subsystem integration, environmental testing, mission-readiness, and major development reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR).
• Produce and maintain design documentation, interface definitions, and verification artifacts.

Requirements

Key must-have technical skills, system experience, and program eligibility requirements.

• Extensive practical experience designing FPGA architectures and firmware using VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog.
• Proven experience with AMD and Microsemi FPGA devices.
• Experience implementing high-speed digital interfaces (LVDS, SpaceWire, Gigabit Ethernet, SPI, I2C, UART).
• Strong skills in timing analysis, timing closure, clock-domain crossing, and signal integrity.
• Experience with FPGA verification, simulation workflows, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Hands-on experience with FPGA hardware bring-up, debugging, and system integration.
• Direct experience developing FPGA systems for spacecraft, spaceflight, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability embedded applications.
• Knowledge or experience with radiation-tolerant/radiation-hardened FPGA architectures and design practices.
• Strong systems-level understanding of embedded hardware and avionics integration; strong troubleshooting and cross-functional communication skills.
• Applicants must meet U.S. export-control eligibility: U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with spacecraft avionics, RF communications, payload processing, or GNC systems.
• Experience with reliability, radiation, EMI/EMC practices, fault management, redundancy, or safety-critical FPGA architectures.
• Experience leading design and integration reviews and mission-level AI&T activities.
• Familiarity with embedded software integration and processor-based SoC architectures.
• Scripting and automation experience (Python, Tcl) and knowledge of emerging FPGA/high-performance embedded processing technologies.

Education Requirements

Required: B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field. Preferred: M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.

About the Company

Company: Quantum Space

Headquarters: Rockville, MD, USA

Developer of high-mobility spacecraft platforms and avionics for national security, civil, and commercial missions. Designs and builds spacecraft systems including propulsion, communications, embedded electronics, and FPGA-based flight hardware for rapid iteration and mission delivery.