Firmware Engineer

JR United Kingdom; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established engineering team seeks an FPGA Firmware Engineer to develop high-performance appliances for national cyber defense. This hands-on role requires VHDL expertise and collaboration across teams to deliver secure, mission-critical solutions. The position offers a competitive salary with flexible on-site arrangements.

Benefits

Bonus scheme

Private medical & dental

Strong pension

Dedicated career support

Flexible benefits

Qualifications

• Experience with modern FPGA toolchain (Altera/Intel, Xilinx).
• Understanding of secure system design.
• Ability to lead small engineering efforts.

Responsibilities

• Develop high-performance FPGA firmware for cybersecurity appliances.
• Work in a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Influence product architecture and collaborate on innovative technology.

Skills

VHDL

FPGA toolchain

Design for secure systems

High-bandwidth interfaces

Mentoring

Job description

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FPGA Firmware Engineer – Gloucester – Up to £80,000 + Bonus + Benefits

On-site 5 days or 4-day condensed week available

*UK Eyes Only – Must be eligible for high-level UK security clearance*

An established and trusted engineering team within the defensive cyber space is seeking an FPGA Firmware Engineer, developing cutting-edge, high-performance appliances from the ground up.

You’ll be working as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team delivering secure, hardware-based solutions where performance, reliability, and maintainability are critical. The firmware you build will sit at the heart of next-generation cybersecurity systems used in the most demanding operational environments.

This is a hands-on role where VHDL expertise is essential. You’ll work across the full development lifecycle – from concept through to delivery and long-term support – and will have the chance to influence product architecture, collaborate closely with hardware, software, and embedded teams, and contribute to innovative technology development in a mission-critical context.

Key Skills & Experience:

• Experience with at least one modern FPGA toolchain (ideally Altera/Intel; Xilinx, Achronix also relevant)

• Experience with embedded FPGA features such as high-bandwidth interfaces (e.g. DRAM, networking)

• Solid understanding of designing for secure or mission-critical systems

• Comfortable leading small engineering efforts and mentoring junior colleagues (for senior candidates)

Nice to have:

• Knowledge of high-speed data processing pipelines

• Background in designing hardware appliances or working closely with custom PCBs

• Familiarity with power distribution and thermal constraints in secure systems

Why apply?

• Competitive salary – roles available from £55,000 to £80,000 depending on experience

• Bonus scheme, private medical & dental, strong pension, and other flexible benefits

• The opportunity to work condensed 4-day weeks (onsite)

• Dedicated career support and learning opportunities within a highly skilled, collaborative team

• Join a secure programme delivering real-world impact in national cyber defence

Please note: Due to the nature of the work, candidates must be sole UK nationals and eligible for UK Eyes Only security clearance. Remote/hybrid options are not available, but flexible working arrangements are considered onsite.