Senior Firmware Engineer ENG088 UNB017

ALL.SPACE; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology company in Reading seeks an FPGA firmware developer to work on challenging projects in phased-array antennas. Key responsibilities include developing firmware for FPGAs, testing on hardware systems, and collaborating with a team of experts. Ideal candidates should have a degree in engineering and experience with HDL programming. This role supports hybrid working and offers an attractive compensation package.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus and stock options

Career development training

Hybrid working

Free gym access

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical, Communications, or similar engineering subject preferred.
• Two years' experience as a firmware developer is advantageous.
• Experience with Xilinx FPGAs is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop FPGA firmware to industry standards and implement signal processing functions.
• Generate testbenches for firmware and perform verification.
• Test firmware on hardware systems.

Skills

Proactive mentality

Clear communication skills

Robust electronic engineering skills

HDL programming (VHDL or Verilog)

Digital logic design at RTL

Education

University degree in Electrical or Communications Engineering

Tools

Xilinx design suite (Vivado, Vitis, PetaLinux)

Bench equipment (spectrum analyser, oscilloscope)

Job description

Overview

At ALL.SPACE we design and produce stand-alone phased-array antennas. We cover the entire electronics spectrum and design and produce the electronics hardware (power, analogue, digital, and RF), as well as the firmware and software that runs on our hardware. FPGAs are crucial elements of our antennas, and our FPGA firmware designers undertake the full development process—from requirement negotiation and initial design architecture to formal validation and verification. The work is challenging but rewarding, and you will be part of a small team of firmware engineers who are experts in their field. The primary role is to develop firmware for deployment into an FPGA, with opportunities to write software for our products and test systems, or use Matlab to generate and analyse test data or simulate DSP algorithms. You will contribute to our unique and novel antennas within an enthusiastic and supportive team.

Responsibilities

• Develop FPGA firmware to industry standards, implementing signal processing functions, glue logic, and high-speed interfaces.
• Develop testbenches for FPGA firmware and perform verification.
• Develop firmware for complex FPGAs, SoCs, and PLDs.
• Test firmware on system hardware.
• Support integration efforts as required.
• Develop and agree development plans with the team leader and work toward delivering firmware on time.
• Review firmware code developed by peers.
• Contribute to miscellaneous firmware team activities.

Requirements

• Education: University degree in Electrical, Communications, or related engineering discipline (first or upper-second class); PhD would be a significant advantage.
• Soft skills: Proactive “can-do” mentality; ability to present information and communicate clearly (verbal and written); good interpersonal skills.
• Required technical skills: Robust electronic engineering skills; binary number arithmetic; digital logic design at Register Transfer Level (RTL); HDL programming (VHDL or Verilog).
• Following skills and experience are advantageous: At least two years’ experience as a firmware developer; FPGA firmware architecture design; signal processing theory of RF signals, ADC/DAC; digital electronic design; digital signal processing (DSP) design; experience with Xilinx FPGAs (RFSoC, MPSoC, Ultrascale+, etc.); experience with Xilinx design suite (Vivado, Vitis, PetaLinux, etc.); use of bench equipment (e.g., spectrum analyser, oscilloscope, RF signal generator, network analyser); Linux; Git; TCL; C programming; Microsoft Office Suite.

Benefits

• Excellent compensation package inclusive of a competitive salary, pension, and 25 days holiday in addition to the UK bank holidays.
• Bonus and stock options package.
• Career development training opportunities (in-house and external).
• Hybrid working.
• Cycle to Work and Employee Referral schemes.
• 24/7 access to discount platform across 900 retailers.
• 24/7 access to the Well-being Centre and Employee Assistance Hotline.
• Free access to a gym.