Principal Firmware Engineer

Collins Aerospace; Almondsbury; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Hybrid role

Pension contribution up to 10%

Private health insurance

Life assurance

25 days annual leave

Early finish Fridays

Career development

Training opportunities

Job summary

Collins Aerospace invites a Principal Firmware Engineer to join a pioneering engineering team in a hybrid role based in either Plymouth or Bristol. Take ownership of the firmware development process, set an aspirational five-year vision, and provide governance across design reviews.

You will lead full lifecycle FPGA work packages, mentor IPTs, and collaborate with systems, software, and mechanical design teams to deliver high‑performance inertial navigation solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (2:1) in Electronics Engineering or related field.
• Strong VHDL experience including architecture, coding, simulation, and test benching.
• Proven experience leading FPGA development activities within complex programmes.
• Ability to influence technical decisions, standards, and development practices.
• Experience with DO-254 design standards.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Vision for continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle FPGA work packages and technical activities across multiple projects, delivering on quality, schedule, and performance.
• Support management and maintenance of software tools used by the digital design team.
• Communicate FPGA design decisions to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Collaborate with systems, software, and mechanical designers to deliver complex projects.
• Provide technical coaching and guidance to engineers across the digital design team.

Skills

VHDL

FPGA leadership

Technical governance

DO-254 experience

Strong communication

Education

2:1 Electronics Engineering degree

Tools

Xpedition

HyperLynx

AMS

Job description

At Collins Aerospace, precision and reliability guide everything we do. Our Plymouth and Bristol 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 Principal Firmware Engineer ready to take a leading role in shaping the next generation of inertial navigation solutions. You'll work on high‑performance navigation and sensor technologies where precision, reliability, and innovation are critical.

Location

Plymouth, Plymouth

Position Role Type

Hybrid

What You Will Do

• Join the Chief Engineers Office where you will:
  • Take ownership of the Firmware development process Updating/tailoring/maintaining component design and review‑related standard work content (activity pages, templates, etc.)
  • Develop and/or maintain standard tools or templates.
  • Establish and maintain an aspirational 5 yearly vision for continual improvement of the discipline
  • Provide governance, chair the system and/or component design reviews
  • Assess design maturity and review technical risk
  • Accountable for designs to address regulatory and customer specification compliance
  • Use experience to identify and apply lessons learned
  • Facilitating RCCA activities and corrective action boards within the discipline
  • Transitioning lessons learned into applicable process improvements for the discipline
  • Conducting discipline health reviews
  • Mentoring IPTs on new or redesign programs
  • Mentoring engineers within discipline
  • Leading the discipline‑specific process and tools training activities
  • Serving as the organizational champion of the Community of Practice
• Lead full lifecycle FPGA work packages and technical activities across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring delivery to quality, schedule, and performance requirements.
• Support the management and maintenance of software tools used by the digital design team.
• Effectively communicate FPGA design and process decisions to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary experts in systems, software, and mechanical design to bring complex projects to life.
• Solve complex technical challenges, considering impact across multiple engineering disciplines through detailed analysis and collaboration.
• Be accountable for the overall delivered quality of our FPGA developments, including peer reviewing and approval.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of FPGA design standards, engineering processes, and best practices.
• Provide technical coaching and guidance to engineers across the digital design team, supporting capability development and knowledge sharing.

What You Must Have

• A minimum 2:1 Bachelor's 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 leading FPGA development activities within complex engineering programmes.
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical decisions, engineering standards, and development practices.
• Proven experience of working to formal design standards 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 Fridays.
• Career 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.

Hybrid: Employees who are working in Hybrid roles will work regularly both onsite and offsite. Ratio of time working onsite will be determined in partnership with your leader.

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.