FPGA & DSP Engineer

Holt Engineering; Saffron Walden; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits package

Job summary

Holt Engineering in Saffron Walden, Essex, is seeking an experienced FPGA & DSP Engineer to join our engineering consultancy. The role focuses on designing, validating and supporting FPGA-based solutions across radar and communications projects.

You will work in a multidisciplinary team, own FPGA development for AMD/Xilinx devices, and contribute to architecture, testing and customer discussions in a hybrid setup (3 days onsite per week).

Qualifications

• Strong FPGA design experience with HDL (VHDL/Verilog).
• Experience with AMD/Xilinx Vivado toolchain including simulation, synthesis, implementation, and test.
• DSP knowledge applied to radar, communications, sensing or real-time systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and implement FPGA and DSP solutions with minimal supervision.
• Develop FPGA designs using HDL for AMD/Xilinx devices including Zynq SoCs.
• Contribute across full engineering lifecycle from concept to support.
• Apply DSP knowledge to radar, communications, and sensing applications.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across hardware, software and firmware.
• Support technical discussions, architecture reviews and project planning.
• Assist in proposal development and customer discussions.
• Engage with customers to understand requirements and explore viable solutions.

Skills

HDL design

VHDL/Verilog

Xilinx Vivado

DSP theory & practice

RF/sensing basics

Full development lifecycle

Customer-facing communication

Technical risk management

UK Security Clearance (SC)

Tools

Vivado toolchain

Job description

FPGA & DSP Engineer

Location: Saffron Walden, Essex

Salary: Dependent on Experience + Bonus

Working pattern: Hybrid – 3 days onsite per week

Benefits: Excellent benefits package

We are looking for an experienced FPGA & DSP Engineer to join a high-performing engineering consultancy delivering innovative, technically demanding solutions across radar, communications and sensing applications.

This is an opportunity to work on a diverse range of client projects, developing robust FPGA-based solutions from early concept and architecture through to implementation, validation and ongoing product support. You will work within a multidisciplinary team alongside hardware, software, firmware and systems engineers, helping to transform customer requirements into high-quality engineering solutions.

The Role

As an FPGA & DSP Engineer, you will take ownership of FPGA design and development activities, with work typically targeted at AMD/Xilinx silicon, including Zynq SoC devices. You will apply your knowledge of HDL, digital signal processing, simulation and test to deliver high-quality designs across technically complex programmes.

The role will suit someone who is confident working independently, enjoys solving challenging technical problems and is comfortable contributing to customer-facing discussions, proposals and design reviews.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop and implement high-quality FPGA and DSP solutions with minimal supervision.
• Develop FPGA designs using HDL for AMD/Xilinx devices, including Zynq SoCs where appropriate.
• Contribute across the full engineering lifecycle, from concept and architecture through development, simulation, test, validation and support.
• Apply digital signal processing knowledge to radar, communications and sensing applications.
• Work closely with hardware, software, firmware and systems engineers within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Participate in technical discussions, architecture definition, design reviews and project planning.
• Support proposal development, including technical scoping, estimation and client discussions.
• Engage directly with customers to understand requirements and explore technically viable solutions.
• Identify, communicate and manage technical risks or concerns at an early stage.
• Maintain clear, accurate and proportionate technical documentation.
• Support continuous improvement in engineering processes, reusable IP and development practices.
• Mentor and support junior engineers where appropriate.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Strong FPGA design experience using HDL, such as VHDL or Verilog.
• Experience using the AMD/Xilinx Vivado toolchain, including simulation, synthesis, implementation and test.
• Strong digital signal processing knowledge and practical FPGA/DSP implementation experience.
• Experience developing FPGA solutions for radar, communications, sensing or other complex real-time systems.
• Experience working through the full development lifecycle, including architecture, design, verification, validation and technical documentation.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a methodical approach to technical risk management.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to discuss technical solutions with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

Desirable

• Experience with open architecture standards such as OpenCPI, STICS or SOSA.
• Experience with other FPGA platforms and toolchains.
• Knowledge of RF systems, RF signal chains or software-defined radio.
• Experience working with Zynq SoC devices and embedded processing platforms.
• Experience across hardware, electronics, firmware or software engineering disciplines.
• Previous engineering consultancy experience.
• Experience preparing proposals, technical estimates and pre-contract scopes of work.
• Experience leading technical work packages or mentoring junior engineers.

About You

You will be a self-motivated FPGA Engineer who takes ownership of technical delivery and enjoys working on varied, challenging engineering problems. You will be adaptable, collaborative and keen to broaden your expertise across different technologies and application areas.