FPGA and DSP Team Lead

DroneShield; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

DroneShield seeks an experienced FPGA & DSP Team Lead in Sydney to guide the FPGA & DSP Engineering team while contributing hands-on engineering. The role focuses on RF Detection and Defeat products using SDRs, FPGAs, and advanced signal processing technologies.

The successful candidate will design FPGA-based RF solutions, ARM-based embedded systems, DSP algorithms, and ML implementations, driving high-bandwidth, low-latency architectures within a fast-growing counter-drone company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electronic Engineering or related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams.
• Experience with FPGA designs using Verilog, VHDL, or SystemVerilog.
• Experience with FPGA development environments such as Vivado, Quartus, Vitis.
• Experience designing high-throughput, low-latency FPGA architectures.
• Experience developing automated verification and validation frameworks.
• Experience writing C/C++ firmware for FPGA-based systems; Python or scripting preferred.
• Experience Linux-based development.
• Understanding of RF systems and DSP concepts.
• Exposure to machine learning concepts and FPGA-based implementations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of FPGA and DSP engineers using Agile methodologies and best-practice project management.
• Assign and prioritise work, balancing technical trade-offs and business objectives.
• Maintain project plans, resource forecasts, and quarterly planning.
• Provide regular updates to management on progress, risks, dependencies, and status.
• Collaborate with other engineering leaders to standardise processes, tools and ways of working.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings and support professional growth through training.
• Design and implement RF solutions, FPGA applications and ARM-based embedded systems.
• Develop multi-FPGA architectures for high-bandwidth, low-latency embedded systems.
• Design embedded MPSoC platforms for real-time wide-bandwidth RF DSP.
• Improve performance, reliability and scalability of core technologies.
• Develop automated V&V frameworks that support Agile/CI/CD.
• Develop and maintain automated build and deployment systems.

Skills

FPGA design

Verilog/VHDL/SystemVerilog

C/C++ firmware

Python

Linux

DSP concepts

Machine learning in FPGA

Team leadership

ARM-based embedded systems

VHDL

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electronic Engineering or related

Tools

Vivado

Quartus

Vitis

Job description

Work withcutting-edgeAI technology that helps make the world a safer and more secure place. DroneShield (ASX:DRO) develops market-leading counter-drone solutions used by militaryorganisations, government agencies, airports, critical infrastructure operators, and law enforcementoperatingin some of the most challenging and high-stakes environments in the world. Employees work at the forefront of innovation, solving complex technical problems and delivering mission-critical capabilities where performance, reliability, and speed matter.

As an ASX200-listed company and theworld'sonly publicly listed pure-play counter-drone business, DroneShield is experiencing rapid growth. Revenue increased from A$57 million in 2024 to more than A$217 million in 2025, supported by record profitability, a global sales pipeline exceeding A$2.5 billion, and annual R&D investment of over A$50 million.

Since 2017, DroneShield has grown from 11 employees to more than 550 globally, with operations across Australia, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, supporting customers in over 70 countries.

The role is based atDroneShield'sSydney headquarters, which houses corporate, commercial, engineering, and operational teams supporting the company's global growth and customer base.

About the role

DroneShield is seeking an experienced FPGA & DSP Team Lead to lead the FPGA & DSP Engineering team in Sydney, Australia. Reporting to the Hardware Manager, Embedded Systems, this role combines technical leadership with hands‑on engineering responsibilities.

The primary focus of the position is the development and advancement of RF Detection and Defeat products using Software-Defined Radios (SDRs), FPGAs, and advanced signal processing technologies.

Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations

Technical Leadership

• Lead and support a team of FPGA and DSP engineers developing electronic warfare products using Agile development methodologies and best-practice project management techniques
• Assign and prioritise work across the team, balancing technical trade-offs and business objectives
• Maintain project plans, resource forecasts, and workforce planning activities, including quarterly planning sessions
• Provide regular updates to management on team progress, risks, dependencies, and project status
• Collaborate with other engineering leaders to establish consistent processes, tools, and ways of working aligned with industry best practice
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance and development discussions, and support professional growth through training and development opportunities

Technical Contribution

• Design and implement RF solutions, FPGA applications, ARM-based embedded systems, digital signal processing algorithms, and machine learning implementations
• Research, design, and develop complex multi-FPGA architectures for high-bandwidth, low-latency embedded systems
• Design and implement embedded MPSoC platforms supporting real-time wide-bandwidth (>1 GHz) RF digital signal processing applications
• Enhance the performance, accuracy, reliability, maintainability, and scalability of DroneShield's core technologies
• Develop and improve automated verification and validation (V&V) frameworks that support Agile and CI/CD development practices
• Develop and maintain reliable automated build and deployment systems

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Electronic Engineering or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience
• Demonstrated experience working effectively within engineering teams and providing technical leadership
• Strong experience developing, debugging, and verifying FPGA designs using Verilog, VHDL, or SystemVerilog
• Experience with FPGA development environments such as Vivado (preferred), Quartus, Vitis, or equivalent tools.
• Experience designing high-throughput, low-latency, fully pipelined FPGA architectures
• Experience developing and implementing automated verification and validation frameworks
• Experience writing C/C++ firmware for FPGA-based systems, with proficiency in Python or other scripting languages preferred
• Experience working in Linux-based development environments
• Experience interpreting PCB schematics, performing board bring-up activities, and debugging hardware issues.
• Understanding of RF systems, RF transmission protocols, and related engineering principles
• Strong knowledge of digital signal processing concepts and implementation techniques
• Exposure to, or practical experience with, machine learning concepts and FPGA-based implementation

Note for recruitment agencies: We do not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters unless specifically instructed.

Data Privacy

DroneShield Group Pty Ltd collects and processes personal information for recruitment and hiring purposes. Where applicable, personal information is processed on the basis of DroneShield's legitimate interests in assessing and selecting candidates for employment. For further information regarding how we collect, use, disclose, store and retain personal information, including your privacy rights, please refer to our Privacy Policy:https://www.droneshield.com/privacy-policy