Senior Firmware Engineer

Jobtailor; Harlow; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in the United Kingdom is seeking a seasoned FPGA/APNT engineer to lead modular firmware architectures and DO-178/DO-254 compliant development across FPGA/SoC platforms. You will write VHDL, design Processing Systems, and mentor the team.

You will collaborate with systems, software, and electronics engineers, develop model-based designs in Simulink, and use Vivado/Vitis tools. This senior role requires security clearance or eligibility and a track record delivering embedded firmware for

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in FPGA/embedded firmware.
• Experience with FPGAs and SoC technologies, especially Xilinx.
• Proven ability to design modular firmware architectures.
• Experience creating model-based design and validating against requirements.
• Proficient in VHDL and configuring Processing Systems in SoCs.

Responsibilities

• Support the APNT Team across internal and customer-funded programmes.
• Create digital-domain architectures including FPGA firmware, DSP algorithms, modelling, and software.
• Contribute to new APNT product concepts using latest FPGA tech.
• Develop requirements ensuring DO-178/DO-254 compliance.
• Create and manage modular firmware and software architectures.
• Verify firmware requirements and perform unit/subsystem testing.
• Collaborate with systems, software, and electronics engineers.
• Generate design documentation and conduct technical reviews.
• Assist integration and act as focal point for the complete system.
• Report to APNT Digital Engineering Manager and APNT Chief Engineer.

Skills

FPGA Firmware Development

VHDL Programming

Xilinx SoC Technologies

Model-Based Design

DO-178 Compliance

Embedded System Architecture

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Technical Documentation

Mentoring

Clear Communication

Adaptability

Team Collaboration

Openness to Learning

Education

SC Security Clearance

Tools

Vivado

Vitis

Simulink

FPGA Design Tools

Embedded Firmware Tools

Job description

• Support the APNT Team across various internal and customer-funded programmes
• Create digital-domain architectures, including FPGA firmware, DSP algorithm development, modelling, and software
• Contribute to new principles and concepts in APNT products using latest FPGA technologies
• Develop requirements ensuring compliance with relevant standards, including DO-178 and DO-254
• Create and manage modular firmware and software architecture
• Understand, decompose, and verify firmware requirements
• Define and perform unit-level and subsystem-level testing for firmware and software
• Work alongside systems, software, and electronic design engineers
• Generate supporting design documentation and perform regular technical reviews
• Assist with integrating designs into products and act as focal point for the complete system
• Report directly to the APNT Digital Engineering Manager and work closely with the APNT Chief Engineer

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of experience
• Experience working with FPGAs and SoC technologies, mainly Xilinx
• Experience creating firmware architectures (modular open system design)
• Experience creating model-based design and testing/verifying it against requirements
• Ability to write FPGA design using VHDL
• Ability to design Processing System within SoC FPGAs
• Present technical information clearly and concisely to others
• Demonstrable analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Mentor and support less experienced team members
• Openness to learn and try new techniques
• Ability to adapt to a dynamic work environment, working independently or with others
• Capable of analysing and reporting on technical data
• Eligible for or holder of current SC security clearance
• Experience using Vivado and Vitis design tools, or equivalent
• Experience working with the Xilinx chip family
• Experience delivering embedded firmware as part of a product
• Experience creating embedded system architectures
• Familiarity with systems engineering across the design and development lifecycle
• Knowledge of defence engineering / airborne standards
• Experience working with Model Based System Engineering tools such as Simulink

Core Competencies

Demonstrates extensive experience in FPGA firmware development, including modular architecture design and compliance with DO-178 and DO-254 standards. Proficient in using VHDL for FPGA design and familiar with Model Based System Engineering tools like Simulink.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• FPGA Firmware Development
• VHDL Programming
• Xilinx SoC Technologies
• Model-Based Design
• DO-178 Compliance

Hard Skills

• FPGA Firmware Development
• VHDL Programming
• Modular Architecture Design
• Model-Based Design
• Unit-Level Testing
• Subsystem-Level Testing
• Embedded System Architecture
• Analytical Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Technical Documentation

Soft Skills

• Mentoring
• Clear Communication
• Adaptability
• Team Collaboration
• Openness to Learning

Certifications & Qualifications

• SC Security Clearance

Industry Keywords

• APNT
• Defence Engineering
• Airborne Standards
• Systems Engineering
• Firmware Requirements

Tools & Technologies

• Vivado
• Vitis
• Simulink
• FPGA Design Tools
• Embedded Firmware Tools