Senior VHDL FPGA Engineer

Leonardo UK; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working

Private healthcare

Pension

Life insurance

Training & learning (Coursera/LinkedIn

Job summary

Leonardo UK is seeking an FPGA Engineer to join our Precision Guidance team in Basildon. You’ll work on embedded VHDL firmware for airborne electro-optics subsystems, guiding firmware design from concept through early life production.

You’ll collaborate with hardware, software and PCB teams to ensure robust FPGA solutions across high-speed devices from Xilinx, Microsemi and Lattice. The role emphasizes methodical firmware development, adherence to safety and quality processes, and producing

Qualifications

• Experience with FPGA technologies from Xilinx, Microsemi (Actel) or Lattice and their tools.
• Advanced verification using VHDL or SystemVerilog / UVM.
• Familiarity with RTCA DO-254 or similar firmware process and IEC 61508 safety requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively across disciplines, both verbally and in writing.

Responsibilities

• Firmware requirements capture and management.
• FPGA design and analysis.
• Production of documentation for other engineers and evidence for design reviews.
• Development of FPGA test and FPGA integration plans.
• System integration work with PCB designers and embedded software engineers.
• Support firmware designs through the company firmware process.
• Modification of existing firmware designs and test benches.

Skills

Communication

Mentoring

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Tools

Xilinx

Microsemi (Actel)

Lattice

ModelSim/Questa

HDL Designer

Siemens EDA tools

Job description

At Leonardo, we are excited to be recruiting for a skilled FPGA Engineer to work within a multi-disciplinary team for our Precision Guidance area. In this broad FPGA firmware engineering role, you will work across a range of projects throughout various stages of the product lifecycle from initial concept development through to early life production. You will work with some of the latest high-speed FPGA's and System-on-Chips (SoC's) to help shape our future products. The role shall be based in Basildon with a primary focus on the design and development of embedded VHDL firmware for complex airborne electro-optics subsystems. You will be part of the Leonardo Sensors product development group within the Integrated Sensing & Protection line of business, interacting with partner organisations, sub-contractor and potential customers.

What you will do:

• Firmware requirements capture and management.
• FPGA design and analysis.
• Production of documentation for other engineers and evidence for design reviews.
• Development of FPGA test and FPGA integration plans.
• Perform system integration work with PCB designers and embedded software engineers.
• Support all firmware designs through the company firmware process - training will be given.
• Modification of existing firmware designs and test benches.

Experience using FPGA technologies especially from either Xilinx, Microsemi (Actel) or Lattice and their tools. Advanced verification techniques using either VHDL or System Verilog / UVM. Specifying complex timing and area constraints for efficient FPGA place and route. Ability to analyse system level requirements and derive detailed Firmware requirements. A methodical approach to the full firmware design lifecycle, working to a structured firmware process such as RTCA DO-254 or similar. Experience of working on safety related firmware to IEC 61508 would be advantageous. De- bugging firmware designs and supporting verification and integration at hardware and system level alongside Software and Hardware Engineers. Making technical decisions and mitigating technical risk for Firmware design activities. Ability to communicate effectively across different disciplines both verbally and in written form. Familiarity with Siemens EDA FPGA development tools including HDL Designer and ModelSim / Questa is an advantage.

It would be nice if you had:

• Awareness of Safety, Security and other legislative constraints
• Engineering experience with electro-optic systems - e.g. cameras, thermal imagers and/or image processing systems/algorithms.
• Experience of mentoring more junior members of the team.

Salary Range

£45k - £61k

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity. Where this vacancy is being recruited across more than one grade, the successful candidate will be appointed to a specific assessed grade, and the applicable salary range will be that associated with the grade of appointment.

Leonardo offers an additional allowances for some roles - for more information please contact, Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team-they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Benefits

• Flexible Working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us
• Company funded flexible benefits: Access to private healthcare, dental schemes, Workplace ISA, Go Green Car Scheme, technology and lifestyle options (£500 annual allowance)
• Holidays: 25 days plus bank holidays, option to buy/sell leave and to accrue up to 12 additional flexi leave days per year
• Pension: Award winning pension scheme (up to 15% employer contribution)
• Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme with access to free mental health support, financial wellbeing support and network groups to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to diversity & inclusion (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity)
• Lifestyle: Discounted Gym membership, Cycle to work scheme
• Training: Free access to more than 4000 online courses via Coursera and Linkedin Learning
• Referral Incentive: You can earn a reward for successfully referring a friend or family member
• Bonus: Scheme in place for all employees at management level and below