Lead FPGA Design Engineer

Octagon Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology company in Southampton is seeking a Lead FPGA Design Engineer to oversee FPGA development and mentor engineers. This role offers a competitive salary up to £75,000, hybrid working, and a strong benefits package. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in FPGA design and leadership skills. This position combines technical work with team leadership, ensuring a dynamic work environment.

Benefits

Private health insurance

Dental insurance

Company shares

Flexible hours

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of hands-on FPGA design experience.
• Comfortable leading others and making technical decisions.
• Good grasp of high-speed digital design.

Responsibilities

• Leading and mentoring a team of FPGA engineers.
• Owning the technical direction for FPGA development.
• Designing FPGA solutions using VHDL or Verilog.

Skills

FPGA design experience

Leadership skills

VHDL or Verilog

High-speed digital design

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

FPGA toolsets

Job description

Lead FPGA Design Engineer, Southampton

Full-time, permanent, salary up to £75,000

We're working with a technology company doing some genuinely exciting things in advanced electronics. They are looking for a Lead FPGA Design Engineer to join the team on a full-time permanent basis.

This role would suit someone who wants to stay hands‑on with design work but is also ready to lead and support a team. You'll be involved across the full development lifecycle, helping shape the direction of projects while still writing code and solving technical challenges yourself.

The job:

• Leading and mentoring a team of FPGA engineers
• Owning the technical direction for FPGA development across several product lines
• Designing and developing FPGA solutions using VHDL or Verilog
• Overseeing verification, validation, and integration of designs
• Working on high-performance designs, often involving video or RF signal processing

The ideal candidate:

• A degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or something similar
• At least 10 years of hands‑on FPGA design experience
• Comfortable leading others and making technical decisions
• Solid experience with VHDL or Verilog and common FPGA toolsets
• A good grasp of high-speed digital design
• You’ll need to be eligible for UK Security Clearance

The offer:

• Salary up to £75,000 (depending on experience)
• Hybrid working and flexible hours
• A strong benefits package including private health, dental and company shares
• A mix of leadership and technical work, this isn’t a desk‑only job
• Projects that will keep you engaged and challenged

If you're a Lead FPGA engineer looking to take the next step, or already leading and want to stay hands‑on, this is a great opportunity to do both.