Principal FPGA Engineer II

Job Title

Principal FPGA Engineer II

Role Summary

Principal FPGA Engineer II will lead FPGA and embedded firmware efforts for research & development of surgical camera technology. The role works across electrical and software teams, acts as the technical lead for an FPGA engineering team, and mentors junior engineers.

This is an R&D engineering role focused on FPGA-based image processing, hardware interfaces, and embedded software for surgical instrumentation.

Experience Level

Senior level. Posting indicates ~5 years of relevant experience and expectation to act as a technical lead and mentor.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include designing, implementing, verifying, and supporting FPGA and embedded systems:

• Design FPGA logic using VHDL/Verilog and write testbenches for functional simulation.
• Create timing constraints and perform timing closure on FPGA designs.
• Develop image-processing pipelines on FPGA and interface with DDR memory.
• Interface FPGAs to external peripherals (high-resolution image sensors, flash, temperature sensors, I2C/SPI/UART).
• Develop and maintain embedded processor code in C; create host test tools in C/C++ or Python.
• Lead weekly stand-ups, act as technical lead, and mentor junior FPGA engineers.
• Test embedded systems with UART/RS-232, JTAG debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers and other lab equipment.
• Maintain automated FPGA build and test platforms via scripting; use version control and perform code reviews.
• Produce and maintain detailed design documentation.
• Coordinate with electrical engineering, software teams, vendors, and field application engineers.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience; preferred items listed separately.

• Minimum ~5 years of relevant FPGA/embedded systems experience (see Education section for degree equivalency).
• Hands-on FPGA design experience with VHDL or Verilog and functional simulation.
• Experience with DDR memory interfacing and timing-closure techniques.
• Embedded C programming experience and familiarity with host-side test tooling.
• Proven ability to debug at the PCBA level using oscilloscopes, multimeters, signal generators and logic analyzers.
• Experience using version control systems and performing code reviews (pull requests).
• Effective verbal and written communication in English; ability to work cross-functionally and with vendors.

Nice-to-have / Preferred:

• Experience with major FPGA toolchains (Xilinx Vivado/ISE, Intel Quartus, Microchip Libero).
• Experience with ModelSim, Questa, or similar functional simulation tools.
• Knowledge of SystemVerilog, C++, and Python for test tooling and scripting.
• Prior technical lead experience on FPGA teams.
• Familiarity with HyperTerminal/TeraTerm or equivalent terminal tools and standard comms protocols.
• Ability to read schematics and review PCB layouts.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree OR equivalent years of directly related experience per the posting: high school + 13 years; Associate's + 9 years; M.S. + 2 years; PhD + 0 years. No specific field of study listed; equivalent practical experience accepted.

About the Company

Company: Alcon

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

Global eye care company that develops, manufactures, and markets surgical equipment and vision care products (including contact lens solutions). Founded in 1945, Alcon sells products worldwide and operates R&D and manufacturing sites across multiple countries.