Principal FPGA Engineer

Job Title

Principal FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Lead the architecture, design, implementation, integration and verification of firmware systems built on FPGAs for high-assurance defence and cyber applications. The role combines hands-on technical delivery with system-level decision making and mentoring of firmware engineers.

Work is onsite in Maidenhead, UK, with responsibility from requirements through verification and qualification to produce traceable, testable firmware solutions.

Experience Level

Senior-level (Principal). Years of experience not specified in the source.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead architecture, design, implementation, integration and verification of FPGA-based firmware systems.
• Translate user and system needs into clear, verifiable firmware requirements and provide constructive feedback where requirements are ambiguous.
• Produce specifications, design documentation, verification plans and requirement traceability artifacts.
• Chair and contribute to technical design reviews to ensure deliverables meet required standards and maturity.
• Estimate delivery time and effort accurately for self and the team, driving cost-effective, predictable delivery.
• Provide specialist guidance, mentor firmware engineers, and champion continuous improvement in firmware development processes.

Requirements

Must-have and desirable qualifications, technologies and behaviours:

• Must: Proven experience delivering firmware on FPGA platforms using VHDL across multiple projects, full lifecycle delivery.
• Must: Strong understanding of FPGA tool flows and verification practices.
• Must: Practical experience with industry-standard communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C and TCP/IP.
• Must: Demonstrable technical leadership and mature design methodology (for example requirements through verification using a structured V-model).
• Must: Experience with version control, change control and defect tracking to ensure governance and traceability.
• Must: Willingness and eligibility to obtain and maintain relevant security clearance for defence/cyber work.
• Nice-to-have: Experience in cryptographic, key management or other defence/cyber-specific firmware projects.

Education Requirements

Not specified.

About the Company

Company: Jonathan Lee Recruitment

Headquarters: Cambridge, United Kingdom

Specialist recruitment consultancy focused on engineering and manufacturing, providing staffing and placement services across technical roles since 1978.