FPGA Engineer

Orbint GmbH; München; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Orbint GmbH in Munich is seeking an FPGA Engineer to design, implement, and verify FPGA-based building blocks for RF payloads in orbit. You will translate requirements into robust digital architectures and integrate with onboard compute and RF front-ends to ensure deterministic performance.

The ideal candidate has a degree in engineering or physics, strong VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog skills, and hands-on experience with vendor toolchains (Xilinx/Intel).

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering/physics with strong digital design emphasis.
• Hands-on FPGA development with VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog; modular design and IP integration.
• Experience with timing closure, constraints, CDC, pipelining, fixed-point arithmetic.
• Vendor toolchains: Xilinx Vivado/Vitis, Intel Quartus; simulation tools.ModelSim/Questa.

Skills

VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog

Timing closure/constraints

Python/MATLAB modelling

Git/CI/HDL regression

Strong communication

Education

BSc/MSc/PhD in Electrical/Computer/Aerospace Engineering or Physics

Tools

Xilinx Vivado/Vitis

Intel Quartus

ModelSim/Questa

Job description

As an FPGA Engineer, you will design, implement, and verify the FPGA-based building blocks that enable our RF payload to reliably acquire, time-tag, condition, and pre-process high-rate signals in orbit. You will translate payload and system requirements into robust digital architectures, integrate with onboard compute and RF front-ends, and ensure deterministic performance under tight constraints (throughput, latency, power, etc.).

About You

We do not expect a perfect match to every bullet point, but you should recognize yourself in most of the profile below.

Core Technical Profile

• Degree (BSc/MSc/PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or similar with strong digital design emphasis.
• Strong hands-on experience with FPGA development using VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog (HLS optional), including modular design and IP integration.
• Proven ability with timing closure, constraints, CDC, pipelining, and fixed-point arithmetic.
• Experience with vendor toolchains: Xilinx Vivado/Vitis, Intel Quartus, simulation tools (ModelSim/Questa/etc.).
• Proficiency in Python/MATLAB (or similar) for modeling, test automation, data analysis, and verification infrastructure.
• Comfortable with engineering best practices: Git, code review, CI-style regressions for HDL, documentation, and collaborative workflows.

SIGINT / Space / Defence Domain (Strong Plus)

• FPGA work in space or other high-reliability contexts; familiarity with radiation effects and mitigation strategies.
• Experience with high-speed ADC/DAC/SDR integration and clocking/synchronization concepts.
• Familiarity with systems engineering constraints (power, thermal, mass, link budgets as they affect onboard data handling).

General

• Structured, analytical working style with strong problem-solving skills and a high bar for technical quality.
• Ability to take ownership from concept through implementation to internal adoption.
• Strong communication skills: you can explain complex technical trade-offs clearly to engineers, management, and customers.
• Very good command of English (spoken and written); German is an asset.
• Eligibility for security clearance.

Why Orbint

At Orbint, you will be joining an ambitious team where your work directly shapes a new space-based SIGINT capability for European defence and security. From designing advanced RF payloads to developing the onboard and ground software that power our satellites — our team is shaping the future of space-based RF sensing.