Principal FPGA Engineer

TipTopJob; Maidenhead; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

TipTopJob is seeking a Principal FPGA Engineer in Maidenhead, UK, to lead firmware architecture and verification for secure FPGA-based systems. You will mentor engineers, drive design reviews, and translate requirements into robust firmware solutions.

The role requires verified FPGA experience, VHDL, and strong knowledge of UART/SPI/I2C and TCP/IP, with a focus on high-quality documentation and traceability.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering firmware on FPGA platforms using VHDL across multiple projects.
• Strong understanding of FPGA tool flows and verification practices.
• Ability to mentor firmware engineers and drive process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design, implementation, integration and verification of firmware systems built on FPGAs as a Principal FPGA Engineer.
• Translate inbound needs into verifiable firmware requirements with clear feedback.
• Produce high-quality firmware designs and documentation with traceability and verification methods.
• Chair and contribute to technical design reviews ensuring standards and maturity.
• Estimate delivery time and effort for self and others, driving cost-effective solutions.
• Provide specialist guidance across the engineering team and mentor firmware engineers.

Skills

FPGA design

VHDL

Firmware development

Technical leadership

Mentoring

Verification

UART

SPI

I2C

TCP/IP

Tools

Git

FPGA tool flows

Job description

Step into an exciting, mission:led career as a Principal FPGA Engineer, shaping secure firmware that powers high:assurance defence and cyber capabilities. If you enjoy leading complex technical work, mentoring others, and turning challenging requirements into robust, testable FPGA:based systems, this Principal FPGA Engineer role is built for you. The work is collaborative, highly technical, and genuinely impactful, with the opportunity to influence architecture from the earliest stages through verification and qualification.

What You Will Do

• Lead the architecture, design, implementation, integration and verification of firmware systems built on FPGAs as a Principal FPGA Engineer.
• Translate inbound user and systems needs into clear, verifiable firmware requirements, providing constructive feedback where requirements are ambiguous.
• Produce high:quality firmware designs and documentation, including specification, reports and requirement traceability with verification methods.
• Chair and contribute to significant technical design reviews, ensuring deliverables meet the expected standards and maturity.
• Estimate delivery time and effort accurately for self and others, driving cost:effective solutions and predictable progress.
• Provide specialist guidance across the engineering team, mentor firmware engineers, and champion continuous improvement in firmware development processes.

What You Will Bring

• Proven experience delivering firmware on FPGA platforms using VHDL across more than one project, with a full life:cycle approach.
• Strong understanding of FPGA tool flows and verification practices, plus the confidence to work with industry:standard communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C and TCP/IP.
• Demonstrable technical leadership, including design:methodology maturity (for example requirements through verification using a structured V:model approach).
• Experience with version control, change control and defect tracking, ensuring governance and traceability are embedded in day:to:day delivery.
• Willingness to obtain and maintain the relevant security clearance required for this Principal FPGA Engineer position, including eligibility rules tied to residency and citizenship.

In the wider cyber and defence engineering industry, this Principal FPGA Engineer role helps this business deliver confidential, reliable cryptographic and key management solutions. By integrating firmware considerations early, ensuring compliance and supporting robust verification, this Principal FPGA Engineer will directly strengthen the engineering organisations ability to deliver secure outcomes for demanding operational environments.

Location: Based onsite in Maidenhead, UK.