Senior FPGA Engineer

Job Title

Senior FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Design, implement, and optimize high-performance FPGA systems for real-time quantum control. Work on control logic, high-speed data acquisition, and precise timing for neutral-atom quantum computers as part of a cross-disciplinary engineering team.

Experience Level

Senior — typically 5+ years of relevant FPGA development experience.

Responsibilities

Deliver and verify FPGA subsystems that meet deterministic timing, high bandwidth, and reliability requirements for quantum control.

• Design and implement SystemVerilog modules for scheduled multitone RF/microwave generators and real-time pulse sequencers for laser control.
• Implement high-speed ADC/DAC interfaces (16-bit, multi-sample/clock) and RFSoC-based designs.
• Develop hardware-accelerated image processing for atom detection and high-throughput data paths.
• Implement and verify high-speed serial interfaces (CoaXPress, Aurora, AXI4-Stream, PCIe, Ethernet).
• Design robust clocking architectures, clock-domain crossing logic, and CDC verification strategies.
• Optimize resource utilization and achieve timing closure on complex UltraScale+ designs.
• Create comprehensive testbenches and verification harnesses using SystemVerilog and Python (cocotb); develop simulation models for peripherals.
• Implement formal checks for critical timing and safety properties.
• Design and validate real-time trigger, synchronization, and recovery mechanisms.
• Troubleshoot hardware-software integration and develop monitoring and diagnostics for system health.

Requirements

Core technical requirements and skills for successful performance in this role.

• 5+ years of FPGA development experience targeting Xilinx UltraScale+ devices (including RFSoC workflows).
• Expert-level SystemVerilog and modern verification methodologies.
• Experience with high-speed serial protocols (Aurora, AXI4, PCIe, Ethernet).
• Real-time systems design with microsecond-level timing requirements.
• Digital signal processing implementation experience on FPGAs.
• Clock-domain crossing design and CDC verification experience.
• Python skills for test automation and data analysis.
• Strong debugging skills for hardware-software integration and clear technical communication.

Nice-to-haves

• RF/microwave systems experience (frequency synthesis, PLLs).
• Experience with JESD204B/C and RF ADC/DAC interfaces.
• Image processing algorithms (centroid detection, pattern recognition).
• Formal verification using SystemVerilog assertions.
• CoaXPress or camera interface experience.
• Familiarity with cloud development environments, HLS, and Vivado block design.
• Prior experience in quantum computing, precision instrumentation, or related fields.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.

About the Company

Company: QuEra Computing

Headquarters: Boston, MA, United States

QuEra Computing develops neutral-atom quantum computers and associated control hardware and software, building scalable quantum systems for research and commercial applications in quantum computing.