FPGA R&D Engineer

Imec; Vlaams-Brabant; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

IMEC in Leuven, Belgium, seeks an FPGA R&D Engineer to design, implement and verify FPGA solutions using VHDL/Verilog, and to integrate with SoC FPGA platforms.

You will develop high-speed interfaces, embedded Linux BSPs, and data acquisition systems, collaborating across disciplines and applying automation for testing and validation.

This role offers opportunities to grow technically and contribute to reusable FPGA IP and industry-ready prototypes within IMEC’s cutting-edge research environment.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 3 years of FPGA development experience in industrial, product-oriented or R&D environments.
• Design of RTL in VHDL (systemVerilog is a plus).
• Experience with high-speed interfaces and timing-critical digital design.
• Knowledge of the Xilinx toolchain is a must, including Vivado, Vitis and Petalinux.
• Experience with SoC FPGA platforms such as Zynq, Zynq UltraScale+, Versal or equivalent.
• Building, configuring and maintaining embedded Linux distributions and board support packages.
• Solid programming skills for automation, verification, scripting and tooling.
• Good understanding of digital design, timing closure, clock-domain crossing, pipelining, FPGA verification and hardware debugging.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, verify and integrate FPGA solutions using VHDL and/or Verilog.
• Develop high-speed digital interfaces such as PCIe, DDR, Ethernet, CSI-2, JESD204, Aurora and other serial transceiver-based links.
• Develop high-bandwidth data acquisition, real-time processing and control systems.
• Work with SoC FPGA platforms by integrating programmable logic with embedded processors.
• Build, customize and maintain embedded Linux distributions, board support packages and development flows.
• Use automation for: testing, build flows, lab validation and data analysis.
• Perform simulation, timing analysis, hardware debugging, system validation and design optimization.
• Collaborate with electronics, software, system engineering and research teams to deliver complete demonstrators and prototypes.
• Contribute to reusable FPGA IP, development methodologies, and continuous technical improvement.

Skills

FPGA development experience

RTL design in VHDL

High-speed interfaces

SoC FPGA platforms

Automation & scripting

Xilinx toolchain

Embedded Linux

Education

Master’s degree (Electronics/Electrical/Computer Eng or equivalent)

Tools

Vivado

Vitis

Petalinux

Job description

FPGA R&D Engineer

What you will do

• Design, implement, verify and integrate FPGA solutions using VHDL and/or Verilog.
• Develop high-speed digital interfaces such as PCIe, DDR, Ethernet, CSI-2, JESD204, Aurora and other serial transceiver-based links.
• Develop high-bandwidth data acquisition, real-time processing and control systems.
• Work with SoC FPGA platforms by integrating programmable logic with embedded processors.
• Build, customize and maintain embedded Linux distributions, board support packages and development flows.
• Use automation for: testing, build flows, lab validation and data analysis.
• Perform simulation, timing analysis, hardware debugging, system validation and design optimization.
• Collaborate with electronics, software, system engineering and research teams to deliver complete demonstrators and prototypes.
• Contribute to reusable FPGA IP, development methodologies, and continuous technical improvement.

What we do for you

• You will work in a multidisciplinary R&D environment where electronics, embedded software, system engineering and advanced technology research come together.
• You will contribute to innovative demonstrators and high-performance embedded systems that bridge research and industry needs.
• You will have opportunities to grow technically, take ownership of system-level designs and collaborate with experts across different domains.
• You will be part of an international working environment that values passion, excellence, connectedness and integrity.

We offer you the opportunity to join one of the world’s premier research centers in nanotechnology at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. With your talent, passion and expertise, you’ll become part of a team that makes the impossible possible. Together, we shape the technology that will determine the society of tomorrow.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and proud of our open, multicultural, and informal working environment with ample possibilities to take initiative and show responsibility. We commit to supporting and guiding you in this process; not only with words but also with tangible actions. Through imec.academy, 'our corporate university', we actively invest in your development to further your technical and personal growth.

We are aware that your valuable contribution makes imec a top player in its field. Your energy and commitment are therefore appreciated by means of a market appropriate salary with many fringe benefits.

Who you are

Required qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in FPGA development in industrial, product-oriented or R&D environments.
• Design of RTL in VHDL (systemVerilog is a plus)
• Experience with high-speed interfaces and timing-critical digital design.
• Knowledge of the Xilinx toolchain is a must, including Vivado, Vitis and Petalinux.
• Experience with SoC FPGA platforms such as Zynq, Zynq UltraScale+, Versal or equivalent.
• Building, configuring and maintaining embedded Linux distributions and board support packages.
• Solid programming skills for automation, verification, scripting and tooling.
• Good understanding of digital design, timing closure, clock-domain crossing, pipelining, FPGA verification and hardware debugging.

Preferred qualifications

• Knowledge of the Lattice FPGA toolchain is a plus.
• Experience with embedded software development in C/C++.
• Experience with lab bring-up using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers and protocol analyzers.
• Experience with automated testing, CI/CD pipelines or reusable FPGA IP development.
• Exposure to advanced technology prototyping or multidisciplinary R&D projects.

Key soft skills

• Problem solving: Troubleshoot complex FPGA, embedded Linux and hardware/software integration challenges.
• Collaboration: Work effectively with electronics, software, system engineering and research teams.
• Communication: Clearly explain technical concepts, risks, options and project status to different audiences.
• Ownership: Take responsibility for deliverables, quality, reliability and project outcomes.
• Innovation mindset: Explore new technologies and methods while maintaining engineering rigor.
• Adaptability: Operate effectively in R&D environments with evolving requirements and unknowns.

IMEC and its affiliates will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. IMEC will consider unsolicited referrals and/or resumes submitted by vendors such as search firms, staffing agencies, professional recruiters, fee-based referral services and recruiting agencies (hereafter “Agency”) to have been referred by the Agency free of charge. IMEC will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have a prior written agreement with IMEC, validated by its HR department, in place regarding a specific job opening and allowing to submit resumes.