FPGA Design Engineer

General Dynamics UK Limited; Hastings; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Nine‑day fortnight

Flexible benefits

Career development plan

Job summary

General Dynamics Mission Systems is seeking a qualified FPGA engineer to contribute to the UKs next-generation combat aircraft programme. You will develop and integrate FPGA-based solutions for safety-critical applications, working with industry, government and academia.

Role involves VHDL/Verilog design, full lifecycle support, simulation environments, and potential AI/ML model exploration within FPGA and embedded computing environments. Hybrid setup with some office presence in the UK.

Qualifications

• Degree in electronic engineering, computer engineering or related discipline.
• Experience developing FPGA solutions with VHDL or Verilog.
• Understanding of FPGA design, simulation, verification and integration.
• Knowledge of embedded systems and digital electronics.
• Ability to work across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• High levels of motivation, integrity and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Develop FPGA designs and firmware using VHDL and/or Verilog.
• Support full FPGA development lifecycle from requirements to integration.
• Create and maintain simulation environments and test benches.
• Perform simulation, integration testing and fault investigation.
• Collaborate with embedded software, hardware and systems teams to integrate FPGA solutions.
• Contribute to design reviews and engineering documentation.
• Explore and apply AI/ML models within FPGA and embedded computing contexts.
• Collaborate with industry, government and academia.

Skills

FPGA design

VHDL

Verilog

Embedded systems

Digital electronics

Cross‑functional collaboration

Motivation & integrity

Education

Degree in electronic/computer engineering

Tools

VHDL/Verilog tools

Job description

Company Description

General Dynamics Mission Systems engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of more than 13,000 top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defence and scientific arenas. In the UK, we are leading the way in avionics and communication systems. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency.

General Dynamics in St Leonards-on-Sea currently provide avionic mission computing systems for a wide range of military fast jets, helicopters, and UAV’s. Recent success has resulted in General Dynamics developing the next generation of Advanced High Performance, Safety Critical Mission Computer Systems to meet the needs of latest platforms in development by several aircraft manufacturers. These Mission Computing Systems provide the functionality that integrates aircraft systems, sensor systems and stores management systems with the information and control systems required by the aircrew to meet the demanding operational needs of these aircraft.

Job Description

Join our TEMPEST team and contribute to the development of advanced mission computing technology for the UK’s next-generation combat aircraft programme. In this role you will develop and integrate FPGA-based solutions for complex, safety-critical applications, working alongside engineers and technical specialists across industry, government and academia. This is an opportunity to work on a major multinational defence programme and help deliver the next generation of combat air capability.

In this role, you will:

• Develop FPGA designs and associated firmware using VHDL and/or Verilog.
• Support the full FPGA development lifecycle, from requirements and design through to implementation, verification and integration.
• Create and maintain simulation environments and test benches.
• Perform simulation, integration testing and technical fault investigation.
• Work with embedded software, hardware and systems engineering teams to integrate FPGA solutions into complex mission computing products.
• Contribute to design reviews and the production of supporting engineering documentation.
• Support the exploration and application of AI/ML models within FPGA and embedded computing environments.
• Collaborate with engineering specialists across industry, government and academia.
• Contribute to sovereign UK defence capability through the delivery of advanced combat air technology.

Qualifications

Essential experience:

• A degree, equivalent qualification or relevant practical experience in electronic engineering, computer engineering or a related discipline.
• Practical experience developing FPGA solutions using VHDL and/or Verilog.
• An understanding of FPGA design, simulation, verification and integration.
• Knowledge of embedded systems and digital electronics.
• The ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• High levels of motivation, integrity and professionalism.

Desirable experience:

• Experience creating simulation environments or VHDL/Verilog test benches.
• Familiarity with FPGA development, simulation and verification tools.
• Experience working on complex, safety-critical or high-integrity systems.
• An understanding of hardware and software integration.
• Experience working with, implementing or deploying AI/ML models.

Additional Information

This role has a salary of between £36,000 - £45,000 plus our flexible benefits package.

We are open to this role being spent with time working from home and in the office (hybrid - typically 3 days working in office) on a weekly basis or fully in our offices.

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose, offering impressive benefits:

• A compressed nine-day fortnight and compressed hours - which means every other Friday off.
• A personalized career development plan, alongside regular progress reviews - supporting and valuing your progression within the Company.
• A flexible working environment where your contributions are recognized and rewarded with flexible benefits

We believe in maintaining a diverse workplace - inclusive of beliefs, cultural background, job experiences, thoughts and ideas. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we welcome you to join our inclusive team!

Our success is fuelled by our colleagues and the wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills they bring to the Company.

We are a Disability Confident Employer, as such we offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job.

Please email [e-mail] if you would like your application to be considered under the DC Scheme.

All successful/appointed applicants must be able to obtain a level of UK Security clearance that is appropriate for the role and undertake suitable Right to work checks.

Every application matters to us. We want you to know that each application we receive is reviewed by a real person—not just an algorithm. Our screening questions are also carefully considered to help us understand your experience and fit for the role.

We appreciate the time you take to apply.