FPGA Development Engineer

Holt Executive Ltd; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Holt Executive Ltd. is seeking an experienced FPGA Development Engineer to join a multidisciplinary team in Farnborough.

You will own FPGA solutions across the full development lifecycle—from requirements capture and architecture through to implementation, verification, hardware integration and production. The role involves collaborating with FPGA, embedded software, hardware, systems and project-management disciplines, coordinating other engineers, supporting external suppliers, and shaping

Qualifications

• Proven experience taking FPGA designs through the complete development lifecycle.
• Strong FPGA design and verification experience using VHDL.
• Experience optimising FPGA designs for performance, power dissipation and resource usage.
• Practical experience integrating and debugging FPGA solutions in hardware.
• Experience developing test benches and carrying out design verification.
• Familiarity with configuration-management systems and version control for HDL source code.
• Ability to obtain and maintain UK Security Check (SC) clearance.
• Willingness to work onsite in Farnborough four days per week.

Responsibilities

• Own FPGA solution delivery from requirements capture to production.
• Lead requirements elicitation and translate system needs into FPGA implementation requirements.
• Define FPGA architectures with the wider team.
• Develop project plans with PMs to ensure on-time delivery.
• Design, develop and verify FPGA solutions using VHDL.
• Develop test benches and support verification, integration and debugging.
• Optimise designs for performance, power, reliability, and resource usage.
• Coordinate design activity and guide other FPGA engineers.
• Manage interfaces with external FPGA, IP and technology suppliers.
• Apply configuration-management to HDL source code and data.
• Support proposals, technical estimates and bid activity.
• Contribute to technical papers and future roadmaps.
• Collaborate with hardware, embedded software, systems engineering and PMs.
• Contribute to secure digital design solutions for cyber and information assurance.

Skills

VHDL

FPGA design

Hardware verification

Test benches

SC clearance

Cross-functional collaboration

Embedded integration

Tools

ModelSim/QuestaSim

Libero design suite

Xilinx toolchains

Altera/Intel FPGA tools

DOORS or similar

Job description

FPGA Development Engineer

Location: Farnborough, Hampshire

Working pattern: Four days onsite

Salary: Competitive + Bonus

Employment Type: Full-time, permanent

We are looking for an experienced FPGA Development Engineer to join a multidisciplinary engineering team working on secure digital design solutions for cyber and information-assurance applications.

This role offers the opportunity to work across the full FPGA development lifecycle, from requirements capture and architecture through to implementation, verification, hardware integration and production. You will contribute to both standard products and bespoke customer solutions involving industry-standard and custom interfaces and protocols.

The Role

As an FPGA Development Engineer, you will take technical ownership of FPGA solutions across a range of complex development projects. Working closely with the wider engineering team and Project Managers, you will help define requirements, develop architectures, implement programmable-logic solutions and support integration and test.

You will work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment alongside engineers from FPGA, embedded software, hardware, systems and project-management disciplines. The role may also include coordinating other FPGA engineers, supporting external suppliers, contributing to proposals and helping shape future technology roadmaps.

Key Responsibilities

• Own FPGA solution delivery from requirements capture and architecture through development, verification, hardware integration and production.
• Lead requirements elicitation and translate system needs into clear FPGA implementation requirements.
• Define FPGA architectures in collaboration with the wider development team.
• Work with Project Managers to develop project plans, define milestones and ensure delivery remains on schedule.
• Design, develop and verify FPGA solutions using VHDL.
• Develop test benches and support verification, system integration and hardware debugging.
• Optimise designs for performance, power dissipation, reliability and resource utilisation.
• Investigate technical issues and support root-cause analysis during integration and test.
• Coordinate FPGA design activity where required and provide technical guidance to other FPGA engineers.
• Manage technical interfaces with external FPGA, IP and technology suppliers.
• Apply configuration-management practices to maintain control of HDL source code, design data and released products.
• Support proposal generation, technical estimates and bid activity when required.
• Contribute to technical papers, white papers and future technology roadmaps.
• Work effectively with hardware, embedded software, systems engineering and project-management teams.
• Support the development of secure digital design solutions for cyber and information-assurance applications.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience taking FPGA designs through the complete development lifecycle.
• Strong FPGA design and verification experience using VHDL.
• Experience optimising FPGA designs for performance, power dissipation and resource usage.
• Practical experience integrating and debugging FPGA solutions in hardware.
• Experience developing test benches and carrying out design verification.
• Familiarity with configuration-management systems and version control for HDL source code.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain UK Security Check (SC) clearance.
• Willingness to work onsite in Farnborough four days per week.

Desirable Experience

• Experience developing HDL solutions for Microchip devices.
• Experience using Libero for design synthesis and implementation.
• Verification experience using ModelSim or QuestaSim.
• UVM experience.
• Requirements analysis, capture and management using IBM DOORS or similar tools.
• Experience with SmartFusion, IGLOO or PolarFire devices.
• Experience using Xilinx or Altera devices and toolsets.
• Knowledge of PCIe, NVMe and FPGA implementation.
• Experience defining, integrating and managing third-party IP.
• Knowledge of secure design principles and design for security.
• Embedded firmware experience using C, C++ or assembler.
• Knowledge of cryptographic standards and algorithms.
• Strong understanding of FPGA integration within hardware platforms.
• Experience supporting bid activity, technical estimates or technology-roadmap development.

To find out more contact Max Sinclair @ Holt Executive