FPGA Design Engineer Academy

Leonardo UK Ltd; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12 flexi-days a year

Pension scheme with 15% employer cont.

Mental health support

Bonus scheme

Job summary

Leonardo UK seeks an FPGA Design Engineer to develop high-speed, real-time FPGA logic for EW and FCA programmes in and around Luton. You will work on SoC-based designs and HDL development, delivering deterministic processing for mission-critical systems.

The role offers hybrid working with on-site presence as required by the programme, and participation in a structured FPGA Academy to deepen expertise across hardware, software and systems.

Qualifications

• Degree-level knowledge or equivalent practical experience in electronic engineering, computer science, physics or related field.
• Experience in a structured engineering development lifecycle.
• Exposure to digital systems, programmable logic or hardware-proximate development.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and verify FPGA logic for EW and FCA systems.
• Work on modern FPGA platforms with high-speed data movement and sensor interfaces.
• Implement deterministic, low-latency processing chains.
• Embedded processing using SoC devices and soft-core processors.
• Translate system requirements into robust FPGA architectures.
• Verify designs using structured development methodologies.
• Support integration, bring-up and debug in complex hardware platforms.
• Collaborate with hardware, systems and software teams on integrated solutions.

Skills

FPGA design

Real-time systems

Hardware debugging

Team collaboration

Education

HNC/HND or degree in Electronic Engineering/CS/Physics

Equivalent practical experience

Tools

HDL development

SoC-based design

Embedded processing

Digital interfaces (Ethernet, PCIe, JESD, LVDS)

Job description

Your Impact

What does it take to make complex EW and Future Combat Air systems react in real time, under extreme conditions? At Leonardo, it's the FPGA logic at the heart of those systems that makes the difference. As an FPGA Design Engineer working on our EW and FCA programmes, you'll help develop the programmable logic that enables high-speed sensing, signal processing and decision-making in mission-critical environments.

Based primarily in Luton, this role combines real programme delivery with access to a structured FPGA Academy, allowing capable engineers to deepen and accelerate their FPGA expertise while contributing to live EW and combat-air systems. Hybrid working is supported, with on-site presence flexing to meet programme needs.

What you will do as an FPGA Design Engineer on EW and FCA programmes

• Design, develop and verify FPGA logic for advanced electronic warfare and combat-air systems.


• Work on modern FPGA platforms supporting: High-speed data movement and sensor interfaces.


• Deterministic, low-latency processing chains.


• Embedded processing using SoC devices and soft-core processors.

Support the delivery of FPGA solutions enabling advanced signal processing, control and real-time data handling.

Translate system-level requirements into robust FPGA architectures and implementations.

Implement, simulate and verify designs using structured FPGA development and verification methodologies.

Support integration, bring-up and debug of FPGA designs within complex hardware platforms in advanced electronics laboratories.

Collaborate closely with hardware, systems and software teams to deliver fully integrated EW and FCA system solutions.

Participate in design and technical reviews, and where required, support activity across UK sites or customer locations.

Alongside project delivery, you'll be supported by a structured FPGA Academy, with training modules aligned to both your existing background and the needs of the EW and FCA programmes you're supporting.

This role grows with you

This is a role where progression comes through technical depth and delivery, not job titles alone.

Initially, you'll focus on building confidence developing and verifying FPGA designs while contributing meaningfully to EW and FCA programmes.

As experience grows, you'll take ownership of larger FPGA features or processing chains, influencing architectural and implementation decisions.

With proven delivery and judgement, progression leads naturally to Senior and Principal FPGA roles, where you shape FPGA strategy, mentor others and influence system-level solutions.

Growth is driven by technical authority, problem-solving and trust earned through programme delivery.

Essential experience and knowledge

• HNC/HND or degree-level knowledge in a relevant discipline (e.g. Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Physics or similar), or equivalent practical experience.


• Experience working within a structured engineering development lifecycle.


• Exposure to digital systems, programmable logic, or hardware-proximate development.


• Awareness of high-speed interfaces and digital design concepts (e.g. Ethernet, PCIe, JESD, LVDS).


• Hands-on experience supporting system-level debug and test, using appropriate electronics tools.

Useful (but not required)

• Prior FPGA or HDL development experience.


• Experience with embedded processing, SoC-based designs or real-time systems.


• Background in defence, aerospace or other high-reliability industries, where performance and robustness are critical.

Salary and benefits

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

Leonardo offers an additional allowances for some roles - for more information please contact.

Corporate Information

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team-they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Benefits

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.


• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.


• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).


• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.


• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.


• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.


• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.


• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.