Senior FPGA Engineer

ESRF; Grenoble; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

International environment

Job summary

The European Synchrotron (ESRF) in Grenoble seeks a Senior FPGA Engineer to design next-generation FPGA-based instrumentation for accelerator complexes and beamlines. You will own system architecture, RTL design, verification, and deployment, collaborating with electronics, embedded software, controls and physics teams.

We value extensive FPGA experience, timing closure skills, and a drive to advance high-throughput data acquisition with robust development practices.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electronics or Electrical Engineering; PhD an advantage.
• 10+ years in FPGA design, architecture, verification and deployment.
• Experience with real-time instrumentation and high-speed interfaces.
• Strong English communication and collaboration across teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop FPGA architectures for real-time instrumentation and data acquisition.
• Verify and optimise FPGA designs focusing on timing closure and maintainability.
• Contribute to instrument system architecture with multidisciplinary teams.
• Lead FPGA technical activities and provide guidance throughout projects.
• Support integration, commissioning and long-term maintenance of FPGA systems.
• Promote reusable IP, reviews and robust development practices.
• Evaluate emerging FPGA technologies and contribute to roadmap.

Skills

FPGA design

Real-time systems

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Communication

English proficiency

Education

Master's degree in Electronics/Electrical Engineering

PhD (advantage)

Tools

Python

C/C++

Git

CI/CD workflows

Job description

Context & Job description

Within the Instrumentation Services and Development Division, the Electronics Unit develops advanced instrumentation for the ESRF accelerator complex and experimental stations (beamlines). We design instrumentation that operates under demanding requirements for precision timing, deterministic control and high-throughput data acquisition in support of world-class scientific research.

As a Senior FPGA Engineer, you will play a key role in designing the next generation of FPGA-based instrumentation used across the accelerator complex and beamlines. You will contribute to challenging developments involving detector readout, data acquisition, embedded control and real-time digital signal processing, working alongside experts in electronics, software, control systems and accelerator physics.

This is a hands‑on technical role for an experienced FPGA engineer who enjoys taking ownership of complex developments, from system architecture and RTL design through verification, integration and deployment. Working within multidisciplinary teams, you will deliver reliable, high-performance FPGA solutions while helping shape the Electronics Unit's FPGA development practices and technical roadmap.

Main Responsibilities

• Design and develop FPGA architectures for real-time instrumentation, data acquisition, control and synchronisation systems.
• Implement, verify and optimise FPGA designs with a strong focus on timing closure, deterministic behaviour, resource efficiency and long‑term maintainability.
• Contribute to the architecture of complete instrumentation systems in close collaboration with electronics, embedded software, controls and scientific teams.
• Lead the FPGA technical activities within multidisciplinary projects and provide technical guidance throughout the development lifecycle.
• Support the integration, commissioning and long‑term maintenance of FPGA‑based instrumentation for the accelerator complex and beamlines.
• Promote engineering excellence through reusable FPGA IP, design reviews, clear documentation and robust development practices.
• Evaluate emerging FPGA technologies, devices and design methodologies, contributing to the Electronics Unit's technology roadmap.

Expected profile

• Master's degree (or equivalent, 300 ECTS) in Electronics, Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline. A PhD is an advantage.
• Extensive experience in FPGA design and development, typically acquired over 10 or more years, covering architecture, implementation, verification and deployment.
• Strong understanding of FPGA design principles, including timing closure, clock domain crossing, pipelining, resource optimisation and high‑speed digital design.
• Experience developing FPGA‑based systems for data acquisition, digital signal processing, embedded control or real‑time instrumentation, including high‑speed interfaces and communication protocols.
• Good understanding of digital electronic systems and their interaction with FPGA‑based designs.
• Experience leading complex technical developments and collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving and communication skills.
• Proficiency in English, the working language of the facility.
• Familiarity with software tools used for hardware verification, automation and testing (Python, C/C++, Git and CI‑based development workflows).

Working conditions

Permanent contract.

The salary will be calculated on the basis of relevant qualifications and professional experience.

What makes the ESRF experience unique…

• Join an innovative international research institute, with a workforce from 38 different countries
• Collaborate with global experts to advance science and address societal challenges
• Come and live in a vibrant city, in the heart of the Alps, and Europe's Green Capital 2022
• Enjoy a workplace designed to support your quality of life
• Benefit from our competitive compensation and allowances package, including financial support for your relocation to Grenoble

For further information on employment terms and conditions, please refer to "What we offer" section of our Careers page https://www.esrf.fr/Jobs

The ESRF is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from disabled persons

Company description

The European Synchrotron, the ESRF, is an international research centre based in Grenoble, France.

Through its innovative engineering, pioneering scientific vision and a strong commitment from its 700 staff members, the ESRF is recognised as one of the top research facilities worldwide. Its particle accelerator produces intense X-ray beams that are used by thousands of scientists each year for experiments in diverse fields such as biology, medicine, environmental sciences, cultural heritage, materials science, and physics.

Supported by 19 countries, the ESRF is an equal opportunity employer and encourages diversity.