Sr. FPGA Engineer (Starshield)

About the role

In this position, you will be an integral part of the Starshield initiative, which is dedicated to delivering specialized satellite capabilities for government applications, including national security, communications, and earth observation. As a member of the satellite digital design team, your primary responsibility will be to design and test hardware for essential space-based systems, ensuring they meet rigorous standards and operational requirements.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Spearhead the design and architecture of digital systems, focusing on signal processing and communication technologies tailored for spacecraft applications.
• Create register transfer level (RTL) designs for both logic systems and signal processing algorithms, ensuring high performance and reliability.
• Integrate and validate your designs on both system-on-chip (SoC) and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) platforms, ensuring they function as intended in real-world scenarios.
• Conduct hardware bring-up and comprehensive testing of systems that are intended for space missions, ensuring they meet all necessary specifications.
• Collaborate closely with software, radio frequency (RF), antenna, and digital signal processing (DSP) engineers to develop advanced software-defined radio systems.
• Troubleshoot and resolve any issues that arise during the integration and testing phases, maintaining a focus on quality and performance.
• Document design processes and testing results to ensure compliance with industry standards and facilitate future improvements.
• Stay updated on the latest advancements in FPGA technology and satellite systems to continuously enhance design methodologies and practices.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in mathematics, computer science, or engineering, accompanied by a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, or at least 7 years of professional experience in a related field without a degree.
• A minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience in FPGA platform development, demonstrating a solid understanding of the technology.
• Proficiency in using hardware description languages such as VHDL, SystemVerilog, or Verilog for effective design and implementation.
• Must possess the capability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Security Clearance, which is essential for this role.
• Candidates must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees to comply with ITAR regulations.
• Flexibility to work weekends and extended hours as necessary to meet project deadlines and operational demands.

Nice to have

• Experience covering the entire FPGA lifecycle, including synthesis, RTL design, timing analysis, verification, and lab validation processes.
• Familiarity with integrating logic onto SoC platforms and designing high-throughput programmable logic (PS/PL) interfaces.
• Experience with firmware development for Xilinx platforms utilizing the Xilinx toolchain for efficient design processes.
• Knowledge of interfacing with high-rate conversion hardware, such as the AD9361 or Xilinx RFSoC, to enhance system capabilities.
• Ability to read and interpret circuit schematics and work effectively with various electronic components.
• Experience in embedded software development using C or C++ to support hardware-software integration.
• Understanding of digital signal processing concepts, including spread spectrum, modulation techniques, channel estimation, forward error correction, and front-end theory.
• Familiarity with signal processing transformations, such as correlation, IIR/FIR filters, and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) techniques.

Skills & tools

• FPGA development expertise
• Proficient in VHDL, Verilog, and SystemVerilog
• Strong background in RTL design
• Experience with the Xilinx toolchain
• Knowledge of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) techniques
• Familiarity with SoC integration processes

Practical notes

• The salary range for this position is between $160,000 and $225,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Compensation packages may include stock options, long-term cash awards, discretionary bonuses, and participation in an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Benefits offered encompass comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan, life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, three weeks of vacation, and over ten paid holidays each year.
• A Top Secret clearance is a prerequisite for employment; candidates should begin this process promptly upon receiving a job offer.