Lead Engineer 1 - FPGA and Test Development (PCBA)

Job Title

Lead Engineer 1 - FPGA and Test Development (PCBA)

Role Summary

Design, develop, and maintain FPGA firmware and PCBA test/validation for wind-turbine blade pitch and power converter systems. Work with hardware, systems, and manufacturing teams to bring up prototype boards, create functional production tests, and support failure analysis.

Role includes ownership of FPGA logic, simulation test benches, LabVIEW-based functional tests, and coordination with international contract manufacturers.

Experience Level

Senior — requires substantial hands-on experience. The posting specifies at least 6 years of FPGA design experience and 2–3 years of PCBA test/validation experience.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include designing FPGA features, supporting board validation, and producing test solutions for production and field support.

• Maintain and update existing FPGA designs, Verilog/SystemVerilog source, and simulation test benches.
• Lead design and implementation of new FPGA logic (FSMs, communication protocols, sensor interfaces, PLC interfaces) and create simulation test benches.
• Collaborate with PCBA hardware and systems engineers to define requirements, select logic devices, and participate in board bring-up for prototypes.
• Design and implement PCBA functional test fixtures and LabVIEW test code for production and validation environments.
• Support PCBA testing, failure analysis, and troubleshooting at board, cabinet, and wind-farm levels; provide factory support to contract manufacturers.
• Specify and support power converter and pitch validation facilities and associated instrumentation.
• Participate in technical reviews and provide feedback to improve product and test processes.
• Provide technical mentoring and documentation; communicate results across engineering and manufacturing teams.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, experience, and conditions for the role.

• Minimum: 6+ years of FPGA design experience, including FSM design, communication protocol implementation, and interfacing to sensors and external hardware.
• Minimum: 2–3 years of PCBA test and validation experience, including failure analysis or manufacturing test development.
• Experience with Verilog and SystemVerilog for application code and testbench development.
• Experience with FPGA vendor toolchains and debugging (examples: Xilinx/AMD Vivado, Lattice, Intel/Altera).
• Experience developing LabVIEW test code and using NI test hardware for functional and production tests.
• Working knowledge of serial protocols and interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet) and ability to read schematics and PCBA layouts.
• Experience with power-electronics measurement and validation; familiarity with electrical/thermal considerations for power systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication, documentation, and leadership skills; demonstrated ability to lead projects and mentor junior engineers.
• Authorization: must be legally authorized to work in the United States; final offer may be contingent on ability to obtain access to U.S. export-controlled information.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college in computer science or engineering is specified.

About the Company

Company: GE Vernova

GE Vernova is an energy company delivering power generation, renewable energy (including wind), and grid and electrification solutions, providing equipment, services, and digital solutions for utility, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.