FPGA Engineer

FPGA Engineer

Location: UK (Multiple Sites - Basildon, Luton, Edinburgh, Southampton, Bristol, Lincoln, Newcastle) Working Pattern: Minimum 3 days on-site / 2 days remote Contract Type: 12-month contract

Security & Eligibility Requirements

UK Nationals only

Must be eligible for UK Eyes Only / high-security defence programmes

No dual nationals permitted

Ability to obtain and maintain required security clearance

We are seeking an experienced FPGA Engineer to join a multidisciplinary engineering team working on advanced precision guidance and airborne electro-optical systems.

This role involves the full FPGA firmware lifecycle, from requirements capture and architecture through to implementation, verification, integration, and support into early production. You will be working with cutting-edge high-speed FPGA and SoC technologies, contributing to mission-critical systems within a structured and safety-focused engineering environment.

FPGA Design & Development

Design and develop embedded FPGA firmware using VHDL (primary) and/or SystemVerilog

Work across full firmware lifecycle: concept, design, implementation, verification, and integration

Modify and maintain existing FPGA designs and test benches

Implement timing-accurate, resource-optimised FPGA architectures

Requirements & Systems Engineering

Capture, analyse, and manage firmware requirements from system-level specifications

Translate complex system requirements into detailed FPGA design requirements

Ensure traceability across design, implementation, and verification activities

Verification & Testing

Develop FPGA verification strategies and test plans

Perform simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing

Debug firmware issues at FPGA, hardware, and system level

Support integration with PCB and embedded software teams

Documentation & Process Compliance

Produce detailed technical documentation for design reviews and engineering teams

Provide evidence to support formal design assurance processes

Work within structured firmware development lifecycles (e.g. DO-254 or equivalent safety-critical processes)

Support formal design reviews and technical governance activities

Cross-Functional Engineering

Collaborate with hardware, PCB, and embedded software engineers

Support system integration activities across multidisciplinary teams

Engage with internal engineering stakeholders and partner organisations

Required Skills & Experience

Strong experience with FPGA design and development

Expertise in VHDL and/or SystemVerilog

Experience with FPGA technologies such as

Xilinx

Microchip (formerly Microsemi/Actel)

Lattice

Strong understanding of FPGA timing constraints, synthesis, and place & route optimisation

Experience in firmware verification methodologies (simulation, testbenches, debug tools)

Ability to interpret system-level requirements and derive detailed firmware specifications

Experience working within structured engineering processes (e.g. DO-254 or equivalent)

Strong debugging skills across FPGA, hardware, and system integration layers

Ability to communicate effectively across engineering disciplines

Desirable Skills

Experience in safety-critical or regulated environments (IEC 61508 or similar)

Familiarity with Siemens EDA tools

ModelSim / Questa

HDL Designer

Experience with airborne, defence, aerospace, or electro-optical systems

SoC-based FPGA development experience

Experience working in high-security or classified programmes