Junior FPGA Firmware Engineers

General Dynamics Mission Systems - United Kingdom; Hastings; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day fortnight

Flexible benefits

Career development plan

Job summary

General Dynamics Mission Systems in Hastings invites engineers to join the TEMPEST programme, delivering cutting-edge avionics and combat air capabilities. You will design, build and integrate next‑gen mission computing and digital design solutions as part of a multinational team.

The role offers exposure to AI, virtual modelling, FPGA work and collaboration with industry, government and academia. Applicants should have an engineering degree and a passion for delivering high‑performance defence

Qualifications

• Degree level education or equivalent in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Knowledge of digital design concepts.
• Demonstrated high levels of motivation, integrity, and professionalism.
• Flexibility, innovation, and commitment to delivery in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Support FPGA development.
• Assist simulation and verification.
• Develop technologies that will shape combat aviation for decades to come.
• Work with world-leading engineers across industry, government and academia.
• Contribute to sovereign UK defence capability and international collaboration.

Skills

Digital design concepts

VHDL/Verilog

Motivation & professionalism

Delivery in fast-paced environments

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent

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

Boost your career at the absolute frontier of aerospace technology by joining our TEMPEST team, helping to deliver the UK’s 6th generation fighteraircraft. As an engineer on this critical multi-national project, you will actively design, build, and integrate the next generation of combat air capability. You will collaborate with industry-leading minds to pioneer breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, digitalmodel basedengineering, and truly next-generation computing. This is a rare opportunity to see your innovations directly shape the future of globaldefence, work withcutting-edgetechnologies, and fast-track your professional development on one of the most ambitious engineering ventures of the century.

In this role you will:

• Support FPGA development
• Assistsimulation and verification
• Develop technologies that will shape combat aviation for decades to come.
• Work with world-leading engineers across industry,governmentand academia.
• Contribute to sovereign UKdefencecapability and international collaboration.

Qualifications

Successful candidates should ideally possess:

• Degree level education or equivalent in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Knowledge of digital design concepts
• Demonstrable knowledge of VHDL/Verilog
• Demonstratedhigh levelsof motivation, integrity, and professionalism
• Flexibility, innovation, and commitment to delivery in fast-paced environments

Please note – As part of this hiring process, if successful the next stage will be an invitation to an Assessment Centre. This will be held on the either the 12th or 13th October 2026 at our Hastings Site. Closing date for all applications 29th September 2026.

Additional Information

These full-time roles are based in Hastings and offers an attractive starting salary of up to £33,000and our excellent flexible benefits package.

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.