FPGA Design Engineer

Acara Solutions, An Aleron Company; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 102,000 - 152,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits package

Relocation assistance

Collaborative environment

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Acara Solutions is actively seeking an experienced FPGA Design Engineer to join a leading aerospace and defense organization. You will design FPGA-based digital solutions using VHDL and work with cross-functional teams across verification and electrical engineering.

The role requires strong hands-on FPGA development, proficiency in VHDL, and experience with Xilinx tools and Questa Sim. Applicants must meet Canada's security clearance eligibility and may receive relocation support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Electrical or Computer Engineering with 6+ years of relevant experience.
• Graduate degree with 4+ years of relevant experience.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop FPGA-based digital solutions using VHDL.
• Participate in new product introduction (NPI) projects from design through testing.
• Utilize Xilinx tools for synthesis, implementation, debugging and timing closure.
• Perform hardware verification, testing, troubleshooting and debugging.
• Collaborate with verification engineers to support testing and validation.
• Participate in design reviews and provide technical input.
• Prepare and maintain design documentation and specifications.
• Provide regular updates on FPGA development progress in meetings.
• Support existing products by investigating issues and contributing to improvements.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration.
• Follow established engineering processes and coding guidelines.

Skills

FPGA design

VHDL

Xilinx tools

Questa Sim

Digital design

Hardware testing

Team collaboration

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Graduate degree in relevant field

10+ years of experience in lieu of a degree

Tools

Xilinx development tools

Questa Sim

Job description

Acara Solutions is currently recruiting for an experienced FPGA Design Engineer to join a leading aerospace and defense organization specializing in advanced optical imaging and targeting systems.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of sophisticated electronic systems used in aerospace, defense, security and search-and-rescue applications.

As part of the FPGA Design team, you will play an important role in new product development, creating reliable digital designs and working closely with electrical engineering, verification and other technical teams throughout the development process.

We are looking for an engineer who enjoys hands‑on technical work, solving complex design challenges and collaborating with talented professionals to develop innovative solutions.

What You'll Be Doing

• Design and develop FPGA-based digital solutions using VHDL.
• Participate in new product introduction (NPI) projects, from initial design through implementation and testing.
• Utilize Xilinx development tools for synthesis, implementation, debugging and timing closure.
• Perform hardware verification, testing, troubleshooting and debugging.
• Collaborate with verification engineers to support testing and validation activities.
• Participate in design reviews and provide technical input throughout the development lifecycle.
• Prepare and maintain design documentation, technical specifications and development records.
• Provide regular updates on FPGA development progress during project meetings.
• Support existing products by investigating technical issues and contributing to ongoing improvements.
• Work with cross-functional engineering teams to ensure FPGA designs integrate effectively into larger electronic systems.
• Follow established engineering processes, design standards and coding guidelines.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering, or equivalent, with a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience; OR a graduate degree with at least 4 years of relevant experience; OR at least 10 years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Strong hands‑on FPGA design and development experience.
• Proficiency in VHDL for digital design.
• Experience with Xilinx development tools for FPGA synthesis, implementation, debugging and timing closure.
• Experience with FPGA simulation and verification tools such as Questa Sim.
• Strong understanding of digital design principles and FPGA development processes.
• Experience with hardware integration, testing and debugging.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements and develop reliable, well‑documented engineering solutions.
• Strong problem‑solving, communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to meet the requirements of Canada's Controlled Goods Registration Program and eligibility for Canadian government security clearance.

What Sets You Apart

• Knowledge of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) techniques.
• Experience with digital or analog video technologies.
• Experience using MATLAB for algorithm development.
• Familiarity with DO-254 or other standardized safety‑critical development processes.
• Experience developing FPGA‑based solutions in aerospace, defense or other complex electronic systems.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary ranging from $102,000 to $152,000 CAD.
• Full benefits package.
• Opportunity to contribute to advanced aerospace and defense technology.
• A collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environment.
• Opportunities to contribute to new product development and ongoing technical innovation.
• Potential relocation assistance for an ideal candidate.

Interested in learning more?

If you have a strong background in FPGA design and enjoy working on complex electronic systems, we'd love to hear from you!