Senior FPGA Engineer

Job Title

Senior FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Design and implement FPGA firmware for RF and photonic prototype systems within a multi-disciplinary Subsystem Engineering and Photonics team in Columbia, MD. The role focuses on firmware development, hands-on hardware integration, and supporting prototype demonstrations.

Experience Level

Senior — typically requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant FPGA or embedded systems experience.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include:

• Design and code FPGA firmware using high-level synthesis and HDL to support hardware prototypes.
• Integrate firmware with RF or photonic hardware and perform hands-on troubleshooting and verification.
• Collaborate with multi-discipline engineering teams to solve system-level problems.
• Serve as a technical resource and participate in internal and external technical reviews.
• Drive project execution to meet schedule and budget objectives.

Requirements

Essential qualifications and skills:

• Minimum of 5 years of prior relevant FPGA/firmware experience.
• Digital design and HDL coding experience targeting configurable logic devices.
• Experience delivering FPGA solutions at the system level, including timing constraints and timing closure.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience with one or more FPGA vendors and toolchains (examples: Altera/Intel, Lattice, Microchip, AMD).
• Experience with high-level synthesis tools (examples: Cadence Stratus, MathWorks HDL Coder, Altera DSPBuilder).
• Hands-on electronics integration and debug using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, etc.
• Proficiency with Python or C for tooling or firmware tasks.
• U.S. citizenship is required and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance. Active DoD Secret clearance is required/expected per role requirements.

Preferred (nice-to-have):

• Experience in digital signal processing and work with Gigabit serial interfaces / multi-gigabit transceivers (MGTs).
• Experience with embedded processors, SoC development for FPGA devices, and Linux-based FPGA development environments.
• Experience in rapid prototyping, hardware verification, and working with RF or photonic systems.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills; self-directed problem solver.

Education Requirements

Typically requires a Bachelor's degree in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics). A degree in Electrical Engineering is highly preferred. The posting also specifies a minimum of 5 years of prior relevant experience.

About the Company

Company: Raytheon Technologies

Headquarters: Arlington, VA, USA

Raytheon Technologies is an Aerospace and Defense company offering advanced systems and services for commercial, military, and government customers worldwide. Formed in 2020 from the merger of Raytheon Company and United Technologies Corporation, it operates through three major business units: Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. The company specializes in delivering cutting-edge solutions across various fields including quantum physics, hypersonics, and cybersecurity.