Senior FPGA Engineer

Job Title

Senior FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Join MITRE's Electronic Systems Development team to design and prototype FPGA- and ASIC-based embedded hardware systems for sensor, communication, and navigation research projects of national importance.

Work includes developing FPGA/ASIC components, implementing algorithms in hardware and software, and integrating systems on embedded platforms.

Experience Level

Senior-level. Typical background: 5+ years related experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience); advanced experience expected in FPGA and system design and integration.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include rapid prototyping and full-cycle development of embedded FPGA systems.

• Design and implement FPGA/ASIC components using RTL (VHDL, Verilog/SystemVerilog).
• Synthesize, simulate, verify, and debug RTL designs with industry EDA tools.
• Integrate third-party IP and SoC subsystems on reconfigurable platforms.
• Implement algorithms across software and hardware on embedded platforms.
• Optimize designs for SWaP-C (size, weight, power, cost) and real-time performance.
• Support architecture, verification, testing, and documentation for prototype systems.
• Collaborate on cross-disciplinary teams to deliver proof-of-concept systems to sponsors.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, security eligibility, and on-site commitment.

• Proficiency in RTL languages (VHDL, Verilog/SystemVerilog) and RTL synthesis and simulation workflows.
• Experience implementing complex embedded systems and hardware/software integration.
• Familiarity with design, verification, test, deployment best practices and version control.
• Experience integrating third-party IP into custom FPGA/SoC designs.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• U.S. citizenship required for clearance processing; must be capable of obtaining and maintaining a DoD Secret clearance.
• On-site presence required at least 4 days per week (Bedford, MA).

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with reconfigurable SoC platforms (Xilinx MPSoC/RFSoC/Versal, Intel Agilex SoC).
• Experience across full digital design flow including synthesis, timing closure, place & route, and ASIC flows.
• Scripting and build tools (Tcl, Python, CMake); MATLAB and signal processing exposure.
• Experience with verification methodologies (UVM/OVM) and hardware emulation (Cadence Palladium, Siemens Veloce).
• Experience with advanced process nodes and foundries.

Education Requirements

Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree plus ~5 years related experience, or a Master’s with ~3 years, or a PhD with relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of related education and work experience. Preferred fields include Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or similar technical disciplines.

About the Company

Company: MITRE

Headquarters: Bedford, Massachusetts, United States

MITRE is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to solving national challenges in defense, cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, and more. By partnering with the government, MITRE operates R&D centers that develop innovative solutions for public interest. Known for its culture of innovation, it offers exceptional employee benefits, professional growth opportunities, and diversity initiatives to ensure a fulfilling workplace for its staff.