Lead FPGA Engineer

RTX; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace technology company is seeking a Lead FPGA Engineer to join their pioneering engineering team in Bristol or Plymouth. In this hybrid role, you'll lead firmware development for advanced navigation systems, requiring strong expertise in VHDL and experience with formal design standards. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and clear communication are essential. The position offers a competitive salary, flexible working options, and excellent benefits including a matched pension contribution and private health insurance.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible and hybrid working options

Excellent pension contribution

Private health insurance

25 days annual leave

Qualifications

• Strong VHDL experience including architecture coding and test benching.
• Proven experience working to formal design standards such as DO-254.
• Excellent communication skills required.
• Vision for continuous improvement and a forward-thinking approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle firmware development on new and existing products.
• Drive continuous improvement in the firmware development process.
• Communicate firmware design and process decisions to various audiences.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary experts to bring complex projects to life.

Skills

VHDL experience

Communication skills

Vision for improvement

Education

Minimum 2:1 Bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering or related field

Tools

E-CAD tools for schematic capture and PCB layout

Job description

Position Role Type

Unspecified

Country

United Kingdom

Location

Atlantic Inertial Systems Limited Clittaford Road Southway Plymouth Devon PL6 6DE

At Collins Aerospace precision and reliability guide everything we do. Our Bristol and Plymouth sites are centres of excellence for navigation and control systems powering world-class innovations like MEMS-based IMUs and TERPROM terrain navigation systems.

This is your opportunity to join a pioneering engineering team - in a hybrid role based in either Plymouth or Bristol - and take a leading role in the next generation of aerospace technology.

We’re looking for a Lead FPGA Engineer ready to take a leading role in shaping the next generation of aerospace systems. You’ll work on high performance navigation and sensor technologies where precision reliability and innovation are critical.

What You Will Do

• Lead full lifecycle firmware development on new and existing products and test equipment
• Work closely with the Electronics Discipline Chief to drive continuous improvement in the firmware development process
• Support the management and maintenance of software tools used by the digital design team
• Effectively communicate firmware design and process decision to both technical and nontechnical audiences
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary experts in systems software and mechanical design to bring complex projects to life
• Participate in peer reviews for firmware
• Share your expertise mentor colleagues and champion continuous improvement across the digital design team

What You’ll Learn

• Develop deep expertise in high performance IMU and MEMS sensor design for real world aerospace applications
• Gain hands‑on experience with formal aerospace development processes
• Work directly with cutting‑edge FPGA and mixed‑signal technologies in live aerospace systems
• Thrive in a high‑performing collaborative engineering environment where precision meets innovation
• Opportunity to develop broader electronics skills alongside digital design work

What You Must Have

• A minimum 2:1 Bachelors degree (or equivalent) in Electronics Engineering or a related field
• Strong VHDL experience including architecture coding simulation and test benching (Microchip Xilinx SoC)
• Proven experience of working to formal design standard such as DO-254
• Excellent communication skills
• Vision for continuous improvement and forward-thinking approach

Skills & Experience We Value

• Familiarity with Verilog/SystemVerilog OSVVM UVM or UVVM
• Experience in MEMS sensors airborne electronics or ASIC development
• Cross‑disciplinary awareness (systems software mechanical)
• Experience with E‑CAD tools for schematic capture PCB layout and simulation (e.g. Xpedition HyperLynx AMS)

What We Can Offer You

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Excellent 2:1 matched pension contribution (up to 10%)
• Private health insurance and life assurance
• 25 days annual leave plus the ability to buy or sell up to 5 more
• Early finish on FridaysCareer development mentorship and world‑class training opportunities
• And much more!

Are you up for the challenge

If you’re ready to make an impact in a company where innovation precision and purpose come together join our mission today.

Note

The successful candidate must hold an active or be willing and eligible to obtain SC level security clearance. Please note that access to certain projects may be restricted based on nationality.

Equal Employment Opportunity

RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity color religion gender sexual orientation or identity national origin age disability protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Required Experience

IC

Employment Type

Full‑Time

Experience

years

Vacancy

1