FPGA Engineer / Senior FPGA Engineer - Power Supplies

Diamond Light Source; Harwell; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Relocation allowance

Hybrid working hours

Job summary

Diamond Light Source is seeking an FPGA Engineer or Senior FPGA Engineer to develop FPGA firmware for the Diamond-II upgrade project. You will work on Xilinx FPGA designs using Vivado, focusing on power-supply controllers, interfaces, and reliability.

The role is hybrid with 4 onsite days per week in Harwell, UK. Applicants should have strong HDL experience (VHDL/Verilog), FPGA simulation, and version control, with knowledge of C/C++/Python.

Qualifications

• HDL firmware development for FPGAs (Xilinx)
• Simulation, verification, and validation of FPGA code
• Code management and version control experience
• Laboratory-based testing and measurement techniques
• Programming languages including C/C++/Python
• Understanding of electronic circuit principles and SPICE tools

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and debug HDL code for FPGA firmware
• Design interfaces to ADCs, DACs, SRAM, Flash, sensors, and microcontrollers
• Test via simulation test benches and on-hardware validation
• Collaborate with hardware engineers and Control Group to optimise performance
• Review and document HDL code per Diamond standards
• Contribute to circuit design, SPICE, MATLAB simulations, PCB design, and prototype testing

Skills

HDL firmware development

VHDL

Verilog

FPGA design

C/C++/Python

simulation tools

version control

problem solving

team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering/Science

PhD (advantage)

Tools

Vivado

LTspice/PSpice/Simscape

MATLAB

Git

SPI/PCB design tools

Job description

Harwell, Oxfordshire

As standard this role offers a hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of 4 days working onsite per week.

About Us

Diamond Light Source is the UK's national synchrotron, serving scientists and researchers from around the world. It is a not-for-profit joint venture, providing academic and industry researchers access to facilities that enable world-changing science.

The machine generates extremely bright light that is directed into laboratories known as beamlines. Scientists use the light to find solutions to humanity's most critical challenges, from health, food security and biotechnology to energy, climate change and advanced materials.

Diamond is in the process of upgrading to a fourth-generation synchrotron, generating a brighter and more coherent light. This will provide enhanced imaging and analysis capabilities, helping the UK to remain at the forefront of scientific discovery.

About the Role

We now have an opportunity for a FPGA Engineer or Senor FPGA Engineer to join our team, for a 3-year fixed term contract, in developing FPGA firmware for the next generation of power supplies for the Diamond-II upgrade project, focusing on quality, reliability, and stability

Applicants will be considered at either FPGA Engineer or Senor FPGA Engineer level, depending on the strength of your skills, experience and qualifications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, maintain, and debug HDL code for Xilinx FPGAs in Vivado, implementing full-cycle firmware for Diamond magnet power supplies, including feedback control, filtering, and interlock handling using state machines.
• Design and integrate interfaces to peripherals such as ADCs, DACs, SRAM, Flash memory, sensors, and microcontrollers.
• Test and verify FPGA designs through simulation test benches and on-hardware validation using logic analysers.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers and the Control Group to optimise performance, resolve issues, and develop reliable Ethernet-based control interfaces.
• Review, refactor, and document HDL code in line with Diamond standards, ensuring proper version control and maintainability.
• Contribute to electronic circuit design, simulation (SPICE, MATLAB), PCB design, and prototype testing to support FPGA-based control system development.

As a Senior FPGA Engineer you will also:

• Lead the development, maintenance, and debugging of HDL code for FPGA (Xilinx)-based controllers, including full-cycle implementation of:
  • DLS Magnet power supplies' controllers
  • State machines, signal conditioning algorithms (e.g., filters)
  • Interfaces to memories, digital and analog sensors, DACs, ADCs, and other peripherals.
  • Interfaces to control and monitoring GUIs developed by Control Group via ethernet.
• Lead the review and enhancement of legacy code to align with Diamond standards.

About You

You will hold an appropriate Engineering or Science degree (Bachelor's or Master's) or possess equivalent experience, with proven practical experience in an industrial or scientific environment relevant to this position.

You will also demonstrate:

• A solid theoretical and practical knowledge of HDL firmware development for FPGAs (preferably Xilinx), using VHDL or Verilog.
• Strong experience with simulation, verification, and validation tools for FPGA code.
• Experience of using code management, version control, and repository tools.
• Basic knowledge of electrical and electronic circuit principles, laboratory-based testing and measurement techniques, and the use of electronic circuit simulation software such as LTspice, PSpice, or Simscape.
• Familiarity with microcontrollers, microprocessors, and programming languages including C, C++, or Python.
• Basic knowledge of linear control systems.
• A self-motivated approach, demonstrating the ability to drive projects to completion, with meticulous attention to detail and a willingness to travel occasionally within the UK and overseas.

As a Senior FPGA Engineer you will hold a bachelor's degree plus significant relevant experience OR

Master's degree plus demonstrable relevant experience OR PhD degree.

You will also demonstrate:

• Advanced and extensive theoretical and practical knowledge in firmware development and debug for FPGA (preferably Xilinx) in VHDL or Verilog.
• Advanced and extensive knowledge and experience in FPGA code simulation, verification and validation tools.
• Experience of using code management and version control software and tools
• Advanced knowledge of laboratory-based testing and measurement equipment and techniques.
• knowledge and experience of programming languages, such as C/C++/Python or similar
• Experience of programming and debugging microcontrollers and microprocessors.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of electronic circuit principles and simulation software like LTspice, PSpice, Simscape, or similar tools.

Benefits

Diamond offers an exceptional benefits package to support staff in achieving a positive work/life balance. This includes 26 days annual leave plus Christmas closure, public holidays, 2 annual volunteering days and flexible working hours. We also offer an excellent defined benefit pension scheme with a 2.3% accrual rate. A relocation allowance may also be available where applicable.

Our campus-based location, with open green space, offers sports pitches, an outdoor gym, as well as a network of cycle, running and walking routes. Staff also have access to a range of onsite amenities including cafes, restaurants, a daycare nursery and free on-site parking.

As standard this role offers a hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of 4 days working onsite per week, however, arrangements may be different during the probationary period.

This role doesn't meet the criteria for visa sponsorship except for people already sponsored before 04/04/24 or meeting the 'new entrant' criteria- www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.