Senior FPGA / DSP Engineer

Holt Engineering Recruitment Ltd; Saffron Walden; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Holt Engineering Recruitment Ltd is seeking an experienced FPGA Engineer to work on technically challenging radar, communications and sensing projects. You will develop high‑performance FPGA and DSP solutions targeting AMD/Xilinx platforms and collaborate with hardware, firmware, software and systems engineers across the full lifecycle.

The role emphasizes solving complex technical problems, design reviews and direct customer discussions, with opportunities to influence technical direction and

Qualifications

• Experience designing FPGA and DSP solutions for high‑performance systems.
• Strong HDL skills (VHDL/Verilog) and familiarity with Xilinx toolchains.
• Exposure to radar, RF or sensing domains is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement complex FPGA and DSP solutions.
• Develop using HDL and the AMD/Xilinx Vivado toolchain.
• Carry out FPGA simulation, verification, integration and testing.
• Translate customer requirements into robust technical solutions.
• Work across concept, architecture, development, validation and support.
• Contribute to technical discussions and formal design reviews.
• Collaborate with hardware, software, firmware and systems teams.
• Produce high-quality technical documentation and estimates.

Skills

FPGA design

HDL: VHDL/Verilog

DSP

AMD/Xilinx FPGA

Zynq SoC

FPGA simulation

Job description

Are you an experienced FPGA Engineer looking to work on technically challenging projects across radar, communications and advanced sensing?

We are recruiting for a highly experienced FPGA & DSP Engineer to join an established engineering consultancy developing cutting-edge technology and intellectual property for a diverse range of customers.

This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer who enjoys solving complex technical problems and wants exposure to the full engineering lifecycle, from initial customer requirements and system architecture through FPGA implementation, simulation, validation and ongoing technical support.

The Role

Working within a multidisciplinary engineering team, you'll develop high-performance FPGA and DSP solutions, predominantly targeting AMD/Xilinx technology, including Zynq SoC devices.

You'll work closely with electronics, firmware, software and systems engineers, taking significant technical ownership of your work while contributing to customer discussions, design reviews and the technical direction of projects.

Projects will predominantly involve radar, communications and sensing applications, making a strong understanding of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) essential. Previous exposure to RF systems would be particularly advantageous.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement complex FPGA and DSP solutions
• Develop using HDL and the AMD/Xilinx Vivado toolchain
• Carry out FPGA simulation, verification, integration and testing
• Translate customer requirements into robust technical solutions
• Work across concept, architecture, development, validation and support
• Contribute to technical discussions and formal design reviews
• Collaborate with hardware, software, firmware and systems engineering teams
• Support project planning, technical proposals and engineering estimates
• Engage directly with customers during technical and pre-contract discussions
• Identify technical risks and recommend appropriate solutions
• Produce and maintain high-quality technical documentation
• Provide technical guidance and potentially mentor more junior engineers

What We're Looking For

We're particularly interested in candidates with strong experience in:

• FPGA design and development
• HDL – VHDL and/or Verilog
• Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
• AMD/Xilinx FPGA technology
• FPGA simulation, verification and test
• Zynq SoC or similar FPGA/processor architectures
• Working across multidisciplinary engineering projects

Experience with other FPGA platforms will also be considered where you can demonstrate a strong core FPGA and DSP skillset.

Any experience within the following areas would be particularly valuable:

• Radar systems
• RF / communications systems
• Advanced sensing technology
• Open architecture standards such as OpenCPI, STICS or SOSA
• Electronics and firmware development
• Customer-facing technical discussions
• Technical leadership or mentoring

Why Apply?

This isn't a role where you'll be working on the same product or technology indefinitely. You'll have the opportunity to work across a variety of complex, technically demanding engineering programmes, solving different customer challenges and developing new technology.

You'll be joining a multidisciplinary environment where technical expertise is valued and you'll have the opportunity to broaden your knowledge across FPGA, DSP, RF, electronics, firmware and systems engineering.