Senior FPGA Engineer

Job Title

Senior FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Design and deliver complex FPGA-based solutions for space electronic systems including Software Defined Radios (SDRs), On-Board Processors (OBPs), and storage subsystems. Work on high-reliability, radiation-mitigated designs using modern AMD (Xilinx) FPGA/SoC families.

Experience Level

Senior — the role expects an experienced engineer (posting indicates 6+ years with a Bachelor's degree, or 4+ years with a Master’s degree).

Responsibilities

Typical responsibilities include:

• Architect, implement, and verify high-speed FPGA designs using Vivado and IP Integrator.
• Develop RTL (VHDL) modules and simulation testbenches (SystemVerilog) for DSP, control, and peripheral interfaces.
• Achieve timing closure and perform static timing analysis, power analysis, and post-implementation verification.
• Integrate embedded ARM processors, DDR4 memory, and high-speed serial interfaces (Aurora, JESD204B/C, PCIe, 1G/10G/100G Ethernet).
• Create and maintain timing constraints, IP-level and top-level design documentation.
• Participate in design and code reviews, and contribute to FPGA design methodologies and best practices.
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams during integration and board bring-up activities.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide training and technical guidance.
• Support lab-based bring-up and debugging using ILA/HW debug tools.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience:

• Deep knowledge of FPGA design methodology: physical synthesis, place-and-route, static timing analysis, timing closure techniques, and power analysis.
• Experience designing with Xilinx SoC/FPGA devices using Vivado Design Suite and Vivado IP Integrator.
• RTL design and coding experience using VHDL.
• Experience writing simulation testbenches and verifying designs using SystemVerilog.
• Experience with board bring-up and lab verification; familiarity with FPGA ILA-based debugging tools (Vivado HW Debugger, Chipscope, SmartDebug).
• Experience implementing interfaces and protocols such as Aurora, JESD204B/C, PCIe, and 1G/10G/100G Ethernet; working with DDR4 memory and embedded ARM processors.
• Proven ability to create and maintain comprehensive simulation test benches and design documentation.
• Experience participating in design/code reviews and driving FPGA best practices.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with Versal AI Engines and AMD RFSoC/Zynq Ultrascale+ families.
• Experience with Microsemi (Microchip) FPGAs and Libero tools.
• Familiarity with ModelSim/Questa/Aldec tools and verification methodologies (UVM/UVVM/OVM).
• Experience with DSP algorithms, MATLAB/Simulink, Linux, and C/C++.
• Experience with revision control systems such as Git and standard lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, signal generators).

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field is required; posting specifies 6+ years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree or 4+ years with a master’s degree.

About the Company

Company: Trident Systems

Developer of space and defense electronic systems specializing in radiation-mitigated FPGA designs, software-defined radios, on-board processors and storage; mission partner to DoD, the Intelligence Community, and civil space customers.