VHDL Firmware Engineer

ALTEN; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Cycle & Tech Scheme

Employee assistance programme

Life insurance & Pension Scheme

Social atmosphere & team events

Flexible working

Job summary

ALTEN is seeking a Senior VHDL firmware engineer to design and develop FPGA-based solutions for mission-critical aerospace and defence systems. You will contribute to robust, high-reliability firmware for advanced communication and avionics applications, collaborating across hardware and software teams.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in VHDL firmware, strong FPGA tooling skills, and experience with verification, DSP, and industry standards.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of VHDL firmware development for FPGA-based systems.
• Strong proficiency with FPGA development tools (Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus).
• Experience in firmware design, simulation, and verification.
• Knowledge of DSP and communication protocols in aerospace/defense contexts.
• Familiarity with Git or other version control systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain VHDL firmware for FPGA-based systems in aerospace/defense applications.
• Optimize firmware for performance, reliability, and safety requirements.
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams to integrate firmware.
• Conduct testing, debugging, and validation of firmware designs.
• Support configuration management and documentation processes.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices for firmware development.

Skills

VHDL firmware

FPGA development tools

firmware design

DSP & protocols

Git version control

Education

Bachelors/Masters in Engineering

Tools

Xilinx Vivado

Intel Quartus

ModelSim

SystemVerilog/UVM

Job description

ALTEN is a global engineering and technology consultancy operating across over 35 countries worldwide. We partner with industry leaders across sectors including Aeronautics, Aerospace, Defence, Naval, Automotive, Energy, Rail, IT and many more to deliver innovative engineering solutions that drive technological advancement & support sustainable transformation.

Our teams of passionate and agile engineers work on cutting-edge projects that shape the future of technology and sustainability. At ALTEN, we empower talented engineers to innovate, solve complex challenges, and deliver impactful solutions that build tomorrow’s world-today.

Join us and start building tomorrow’s world today!

Job Description

Join our team to deliver high-impact firmware solutions for mission-critical aerospace and defence systems. You’ll develop VHDL firmware for FPGAs, ensuring robust performance and reliability in advanced communication and avionics applications. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge projects where your expertise directly supports operational capability in dynamic environments.

Location

Location: Reading

On-site

On-site: Hybrid (3 days per week)

Seniority

Seniority: Senior (5+ years of relevant experience)

Clearance

Clearance: Candidates must be willing and eligible to obtain SC clearance.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain VHDL firmware for FPGA-based systems in aerospace and defence applications.
• Implement and optimize firmware to meet performance, reliability, and safety requirements.
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams to integrate firmware into complex systems.
• Conduct testing, debugging, and validation of firmware designs.
• Support configuration management and documentation processes.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices for firmware development.

Required Skills

• 5+ years of experience in VHDL firmware development for FPGAs.
• Strong proficiency in FPGA development tools (e.g., Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus).
• Experience with firmware design, simulation, and verification.
• Knowledge of digital signal processing and communication protocols.
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git).

Soft Skills & Collaboration

• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Adaptability in fast-paced, regulated environments.
• Proactive approach to continuous improvement and quality assurance.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant Engineering field, or relevant technical/military background with equivalent hands-on experience.

Desirable Skills

• Experience with embedded systems and real-time processing.
• Knowledge of ModelSim, SystemVerilog, or UVM.
• Exposure to aerospace/defence standards (e.g., DO-254 or -178).
• Familiarity with Python or Tcl scripting for automation.

Additional Information

Why join us?

We bring together entrepreneurial, tech-driven people to deliver innovative solutions for leading companies.

At ALTEN, you’ll work on exciting projects, supported by ongoing learning, mentoring, and clear career development tailored to your goals.

Join a passionate team and help build tomorrow, today.

In short you get:

• A personalised career path and a rewarding management style
• A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries
• Private Medical Insurance
• Cycle & Tech Scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Life insurance & Pension Scheme
• Social atmosphere, regular gatherings & team buildings
• Flexible way of working (role dependent)

We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant & actively encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, and military spouses/partners. We recognise the value of military skills and experience and are committed to ensuring that no applicant is unfairly disadvantaged during our recruitment and selection processes.

ALTEN is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and values the strength that comes from a global mix of backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of background or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

This role may require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected . Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.