Staff FPGA Engineer

Job Title

Staff FPGA Engineer

Role Summary

Senior FPGA engineer on the FPGA Team responsible for designing, developing, and verifying FPGA features and real-time control logic for quantum control systems in Oxford. The role owns and architects critical control functions, firmware for high-speed waveform generation and digital control loops, and supports system-level integration and lab validation.

Experience Level

Senior — requires at least 10 years of hands-on FPGA development experience.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include RTL design, verification, firmware implementation, and system debugging for real-time quantum control electronics.

• Design and implement FPGA-based signal processing and control functions; produce functional block specifications from system requirements.
• Perform RTL design (Verilog or VHDL) using Vivado, IP catalog, and block design; develop and maintain reusable IP.
• Perform logic simulation and verification; develop testbenches and verification suites.
• Simulate signal processing and control algorithms in software (Python, MATLAB/Simulink) to validate architectures.
• Implement and test firmware for high-speed waveform generation and digital control loops; author test procedures and document results.
• Debug systems using JTAG, Integrated Logic Analyzers and laboratory equipment (signal generators, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers).
• Collaborate cross-functionally with board design and software teams to deliver integrated solutions.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and relevant experience; nice-to-have items listed separately.

• Must-have: At least 10 years of hands-on FPGA development experience.
• Strong RTL design and verification skills; SystemVerilog experience and familiarity with code and functional coverage methodologies.
• Experience with industry verification tools (Synopsys, Cadence, ModelSim or equivalent).
• Practical experience with FPGA-based signal processing techniques: DDC/DUC, DDS, FIR/IIR filters.
• Proficiency in modelling and simulation with Python and/or MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience with Xilinx Ultrascale+ MPSoC devices and common peripheral interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, USB).
• Proven ability to debug systems using JTAG/ILA and laboratory instrumentation.
• Nice-to-have: ASIC design and tapeout experience; implementing digital control algorithms (PID, feedforward, MIMO) in firmware; high-speed interface design and verification (ADC/DAC, DDR3/4, JESD204B, 10 GbE); embedded Linux and device driver experience; GitLab CI for automated firmware builds.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical field is required (as stated in the posting). No specific certifications were listed.

About the Company

Company: IonQ

Headquarters: College Park, Maryland, United States

Quantum computing company developing integrated quantum systems for computing, networking, sensing, and security. Provides quantum hardware and services to cloud providers and enterprise customers across industries including drug discovery, materials science, and defense.