Staff Digital Engineer

Job Title

Staff Digital Engineer

Role Summary

Join the Advanced Digital Design team to design and deliver digital FPGA-based solutions for multi-function software-defined radios and signal-processing systems. The role focuses on FPGA architecture, implementation, verification, and hardware bring-up for communications systems.

Work is based in McClellan, CA supporting hardware design, board-level debug, and collaboration with systems engineers; occasional travel (~10%) is required.

Experience Level

Senior-level engineering role. Typically a staff-level position requiring substantial hands-on FPGA design and team leadership experience (generally on the order of several years at the professional level).

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include design, verification, and integration of digital FPGA systems and mentoring junior engineers.

• Research, design, and develop digital designs for software-defined radio systems.
• Implement FPGA hardware architecture and algorithms; create and review design analyses.
• Develop and run test benches and use evaluation boards to validate designs.
• Perform board- and system-level debug using test equipment and internal hardware analyzers.
• Work with Systems Engineering to ensure firmware meets system-level requirements.
• Lead or mentor a team of digital/VHDL engineers on complex designs.
• Support timing-closure efforts and manage FPGA physical constraints.
• Participate in design reviews and verification activities.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, security eligibility, and practical experience for immediate contribution.

• US citizenship required (security eligibility); ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
• Hands-on FPGA design experience using VHDL or Verilog.
• Experience with AMD/Xilinx device families (Zynq, Kintex, Ultrascale, Versal).
• Familiarity with EDA tools such as Vivado and QuestaSim.
• Experience generating test benches and supporting formal VHDL verification.
• Board/system-level bring-up and debugging using lab test equipment and hardware analyzers.
• Knowledge of FPGA physical constraints and strategies for achieving timing closure.
• Experience leading or mentoring junior digital engineers on complex projects.
• Willingness to travel approximately 10% of the time.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with DSP algorithm implementation and MATLAB.
• Active/current Secret clearance or higher.

Education Requirements

Degree options listed by employer: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline plus 12 years of related experience; Master’s degree in a STEM discipline plus 10 years of related experience; or PhD in a STEM discipline plus 8 years of related experience. Degrees referenced are in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).

About the Company

Company: Northrop Grumman

Headquarters: Falls Church, Virginia, United States

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company that provides innovative solutions in mission systems, electronics, and software. With a legacy of significant advancements in technology, we empower employees to tackle complex challenges and create revolutionary systems that enhance global security. Our diverse teams focus on engineering innovation and product development, delivering solutions that support military and civilian customers worldwide.