Staff FPGA Engineer

Entrust; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Entrust Cambridge is seeking a technical leader to design and deliver FPGA-based solutions for security-focused systems. You will own FPGA architecture, implementation, and integration while remaining hands-on across the portfolio.

You will lead VHDL design, verification, and debugging, drive architectural decisions, and coordinate FPGA integration with embedded and host software. The role requires mentoring engineers and shaping development processes for robust, scalable platforms.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering complex FPGA-based systems, including synthesis, place & route, and timing closure.
• Xilinx FPGA architectures and toolchains.
• Experience translating algorithms into efficient FPGA implementations, optimised for performance, area, and power.
• Experience integrating FPGA designs into hardware/software systems, including bring‑up and debugging.
• Software development experience (e.g. C or Python) to support tooling, test, or integration.
• Experience working in Linux and/or Windows development environments.

Responsibilities

• Leads the design, implementation, verification, and debug of VHDL-based FPGA solutions for new and existing products.
• Owns FPGA architectural design, including partitioning, interfaces, and performance trade-offs within system constraints.
• Drives integration of FPGA components with embedded and host software systems, ensuring robust and scalable solutions.
• Defines and structures FPGA development work, translating requirements into deliverable tasks and clear technical plans.
• Provides estimates for FPGA activities, ensuring plans are realistic, risks are understood, and dependencies are identified.
• Coordinates and balances FPGA work across engineers, aligning tasks to skill levels and supporting effective team delivery.
• Guides day-to-day execution, providing technical direction and unblocking engineers during implementation.
• Identifies and mitigates technical risks and delivery bottlenecks.
• Defines and evolves FPGA development processes, including configuration management, CI/CD, and verification practices.
• Contributes to system architecture, working with hardware, software, and product teams to define platform capabilities.
• Leads resolution of complex technical challenges (e.g. timing closure, resource optimisation, system integration).
• Mentors and develops engineers through technical guidance, design reviews, and knowledge sharing.
• Collaborates across teams to ensure alignment of FPGA deliverables with system and product objectives.

Skills

FPGA

VHDL

Synthesis & P&R

Xilinx FPGA

Algorithm optimization

Linux/Windows

C or Python

System integration

Education

Degree in Electronic Engineering/CS/Math

Tools

Xilinx toolchains

CI/CD

Job description

Location: Cambridge (Hybrid, 3 days onsite)

Job type: Permanent, full-time

Position Overview:

Provides technical leadership in the design and delivery of FPGA-based solutions within complex, security-focused systems. Owns FPGA architecture, implementation, and integration, and contributes to system-level design and planning. Drives technical direction, delivery planning, and execution across FPGA workstreams, while remaining a hands-on contributor.

Responsibilities:

• Leads the design, implementation, verification, and debug of VHDL-based FPGA solutions for new and existing products.
• Owns FPGA architectural design, including partitioning, interfaces, and performance trade-offs within system constraints.
• Drives integration of FPGA components with embedded and host software systems, ensuring robust and scalable solutions.
• Defines and structures FPGA development work, translating requirements into deliverable tasks and clear technical plans.
• Provides estimates for FPGA activities, ensuring plans are realistic, risks are understood, and dependencies are identified.
• Coordinates and balances FPGA work across engineers, aligning tasks to skill levels and supporting effective team delivery.
• Guides day-to-day execution, providing technical direction and unblocking engineers during implementation.
• Identifies and mitigates technical risks and delivery bottlenecks.
• Defines and evolves FPGA development processes, including configuration management, CI/CD, and verification practices.
• Contributes to system architecture, working with hardware, software, and product teams to define platform capabilities.
• Leads resolution of complex technical challenges (e.g. timing closure, resource optimisation, system integration).
• Mentors and develops engineers through technical guidance, design reviews, and knowledge sharing.
• Collaborates across teams to ensure alignment of FPGA deliverables with system and product objectives.

Required Experience:

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering complex FPGA-based systems, including:
• Synthesis, place & route, and timing closure
• Xilinx FPGA architectures and toolchains
• Experience translating algorithms into efficient FPGA implementations, optimised for performance, area, and power.
• Experience integrating FPGA designs into hardware/software systems, including bring‑up and debugging.
• Software development experience (e.g. C or Python) to support tooling, test, or integration.
• Experience working in Linux and/or Windows development environments.

Bonus Experience:

• Xilinx SoC platforms (e.g. Zynq, Versal)
• Intel (Altera) FPGA architectures, including SoCs
• Cryptographic algorithms or secure hardware systems
• Product compliance, certification, or regulated environments

Personal Attributes:

• Demonstrates ownership and accountability for technical delivery.
• Applies a structured approach to planning, estimation, and execution.
• Effectively guides and develops other engineers, particularly less experienced team members.
• Maintains a hands‑on approach while operating at system and team level.
• Strong collaborator, able to influence without authority.
• Comfortable working in complex, multi-disciplinary environments.