Associate FPGA / ASIC Design Engineer - Summer 2027

MITRE; Bedford (MA); On-site; USD 89,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE in Bedford, MA is seeking engineers with FPGA/ASIC design expertise to support national security and advanced research. This role focuses on rapid prototyping on state-of-the-embedded platforms and involves on-site work in our labs and classified facilities.

Candidates will work on real-time sensor systems, SWaP-C platforms, and require strong HDL knowledge, C/C++, Python, and the ability to obtain DoD clearance. On-site requirement is four days per week.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering or equivalent.
• Typically <1 year related experience with related degree.
• Strong digital design knowledge and HDL familiarity.
• Experience with HDL languages and FPGA/ASIC tools.
• US citizenship and ability to obtain DoD clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop components across FPGA/ASIC technologies.
• Implement SW/HW algorithms on embedded platforms.
• Prototype, integrate, and test custom hardware in the lab.

Skills

HDL languages

C/C++

Python

Communication skills

US citizenship

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering

Tools

FPGA/ASIC design tools

Simulation/Synthesis tools

TCL

CMake

MATLAB

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

MITRE’s Electronic Systems Development department is seeking to hire talented engineers starting Summer of 2027 with a background in Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and/or Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design to support advanced research and development projects of national significance. Qualified candidates will join a multi-disciplinary team to help support the design and implementation of proof-of-concept prototype systems on embedded hardware platforms. Our diverse set of sponsors and research objectives provide a wide variety of interesting work opportunities such as:

• Real-time communication and sensor systems leveraging cutting-edge ASIC design, FPGA technology, and Software-Defined Radio (SDR) platforms
• Advanced architectures for high throughput signal processing algorithms
• Tightly integrated, custom platforms targeting low size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) applications
• Cross-disciplinary teams of similarly bright and motivated engineers on projects of national importance

Roles & Responsibilities:

Our team specializes in rapid prototyping of advanced sensor, communication, and navigation systems on state-of-the‑embedded system platforms. This position provides an exciting opportunity to work on the following:

• Component development across FPGA and ASIC technologies
• Implementation of algorithms in SW/HW on embedded systems
• Development, integration, and testing of custom prototypes in the lab

Basic Qualifications:

We are interested in highly motivated candidates with a wide variety of skills, insatiable curiosity, enthusiasm, and the ability and interest to dig deep on challenging technical problems. Minimum qualifications include:

• Typically requires less than 1 year of related experience with a related Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering (or similar field), or an equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Solid understanding of digital system design at the Boolean logic level
• Solid understanding of basic circuits and electronic principles
• Experience with programming and a working knowledge of one or more Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) such as VHDL, Verilog, or System Verilog
• Exposure to FPGA or ASIC simulation, synthesis, and implementation tools
• Exposure to programming languages such as C/C++ and Python
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Applicants selected for this position will be subject to a US government security investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense SECRET clearance, which requires US citizenship
• Candidates must meet requirements to support project work on-site in our labs and classified facilities on the Bedford, MA Campus
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site at our Bedford, MA facility.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering or similar field
• Exposure to cutting-edge, reconfigurable SoC platforms (e.g., AMD Xilinx MPSoC, AMD Xilinx RFSoC, AMD Xilinx Versal, Intel Agilex SoC)
• Familiarity with all phases of digital design, including architecture, implementation, verification, test, documentation, and version control
• Exposure to leading edge process nodes and foundries including GlobalFoundries, Intel, and TSMC
• Solid understanding of processor interface techniques such as memory mapped peripherals and interrupts
• Familiarity with scripting languages and build tools (TCL, Python, CMake)
• Experience deploying designs on FPGA or SDR platforms, from RTL, through simulation, synthesis, lab bring-up and debug
• Fundamental understanding of microelectronic circuits and transistors
• Experience in ASIC or FPGA EDA tools including synthesis, timing closure, place & route, and emulation techniques
• Basic understanding of signal processing concepts and exposure to MATLAB
• Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning concepts

Clearance Requirements:

Candidate must have a minimum of the following clearance(s): None.

Hired candidate must have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s): None.

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$89,200 - $111,500 - $133,800 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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