Digital Design Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation; United States; On-site; USD 129,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care

Telework options

Education assistance

Relocation assistance

Professional development

401(k) plan

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation seeks a Project Engineer- General IC Design Engineering to lead FPGA/ASIC design, verification, and hardware integration across programs. You will design, test, and validate boards, units, and systems, and mentor junior staff.

Responsibilities include leading cross-functional teams, performing risk assessments, delivering technical reports, and coordinating on-site with contractor facilities. Travel up to 25% and on-site work four days a week are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field; 8+ years in digital/microelectronic hardware.
• Proficient in VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog and CAD tools for FPGA/ASIC design.
• Experience in high-speed PCB design from schematic capture to board layout.
• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and work on-site 4 days/week; travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, test, and verify FPGA/ASIC, boards, units, and systems for digital electronics.
• Perform independent verification and validation of contractor designs to ensure requirements.
• Develop and test software/scripts, firmware, and testing equipment for hardware testing.
• Provide on-site presence at contractor facilities for meetings, reviews, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Mentor staff and interns on design processes and best practices.

Skills

VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog

CAD tools

FPGA/ASIC design

PCB design

Troubleshooting

Root-cause analysis

Documentation

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

HyperLynx

PSPICE

Oscilloscope

Job description

What You’ll Be Doing

Utilize cutting-edge digital design tools, technologies, and best practices to design, implement, test, and verify advanced FPGA/ASIC, boards, units, and systems for digital electronics applications. Perform independent verification and validation of contractor designs (boards, units, and FPGA/ASIC) to ensure requirement conformances. Develop and test software/scripts, firmware, and support test equipment (STE) for hardware testing. Provide on-site presence and support at contractor facilities for technical meetings, reviews, hardware testing, and troubleshooting. Lead technical teams or work independently, fostering collaboration across both internal and external organizations to ensure resource alignment and project success. Conduct risk assessments and resolve anomalies for FPGA/ASIC, electronic hardware, and systems. Prepare and brief technical reports and project updates to customers, management, and other stakeholders. Mentor staff and interns on design processes and best practices.

What You Need to be Successful – Project Engineer- General Integrated Circuit (IC) Design Engineering

Minimum Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field from an accredited university, with 8+ years of experience in engineering/scientific roles related to digital and microelectronic hardware. Experience in FPGA/ASIC design using hardware description languages such as VHDL, Verilog, and/or System Verilog and CAD tools. Experience with the design, implement, test, and verification of advanced FPGA/ASIC, boards, units, and systems for digital electronics applications Experience in high-speed Printed Circuit Board (PCB) designs from schematic capture, parts placement, signal routing, stack-up, and board layout. Hands-on troubleshooting skills and proficient in lab equipment and measurements for hardware anomalies and failures, with experience in root-cause analysis and resolution in digital and mixed-signal circuits and subsystems. Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams across design, manufacturing, test, and integration. Serve as the technical authority, consultant, primary investigator, or project leader on multiple programs, collaborating seamlessly with both internal and external stakeholders. Excellent communication, teamwork, and documentation skills; ability to work on-site at least 4 days per week, travel up to 25% of the time.

Minimum Requirements

• Experience in FPGA/ASIC design using hardware description languages such as VHDL, Verilog, and/or System Verilog and CAD tools
• Experience with the design, implement, test, and verification of advanced FPGA/ASIC, boards, units, and systems for digital electronics applications
• Experience in high-speed Printed Circuit Board (PCB) designs from schematic capture, parts placement, signal routing, stack-up, and board layout
• Hands-on troubleshooting skills and proficient in lab equipment and measurements for hardware anomalies and failures, with experience in root-cause analysis and resolution in digital and mixed-signal circuits and subsystems
• Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams across design, manufacturing, test, and integration
• Serve as the technical authority, consultant, primary investigator, or project leader on multiple programs, collaborating seamlessly with both internal and external stakeholders

What You Can Stand Out

• Hands-on knowledge of space qualification for electrical components, radiation effects, board/component-level radiation testing, and worst-case circuit analysis (WCCA), including use of analysis tools (HyperLynx, PSPICE)
• Experience with space hardware and/or FPGA designs
• Advanced degree in electrical engineering or a related field from an accredited university
• Proven ability to identify risks and lead risk reduction initiatives in digital and mixed-signal electronics systems
• Demonstrated expertise in the full lifecycle of digital and mixed-signal systems—concept, requirements, design, manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test at all system levels
• Strong knowledge of mixed-signal analog design, including active filters, precision current drives, data converter support circuitry, and related simulation techniques
• Skilled in signal integrity simulation, analysis, and testing, with a solid background in transmission line theory, electromagnetics, PCB, and package layout techniques
• In-depth understanding of high-speed digital communications, space payload electronics and subsystems, C&DH systems, and digital signal processing
• Ability to obtain/maintain a U.S. government security clearance (U.S. citizenship required)
• Experience with space system engineering practices and standards
• Experience working closely with customers and/or contractors
• Experience in human space flight
• Knowledge and understanding of the NASA program life cycle

We offer a competitive compensation package

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills. (Min - Max) $129,000.00 - $193,500.00 Pay Basis: Annual

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who: Operate Strategically Lead Change Engage with Impact Foster Innovation Deliver Results Ways

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company‑paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at [e-mail] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.

Right Place

The Aerospace Corporation has over 26 locations nationwide, which allows us to build a workforce that will nurture the best ideas, and generate the most novel innovations and solutions to our nation’s toughest space enterprise challenges.

Right Path

Aerospace covers all stages of the space lifecycle, from concept to operations. We believe our people are our most valuable resource and that’s why we propel our employees forward in their careers through ongoing education, training, and professional development.

Right Purpose

We can all serve a mission much greater than ourselves, and at Aerospace that is exactly what we do. By hiring the industry’s most preeminent scientists and engineers, Aerospace advances emerging technologies that protect some of the most critical missions on Earth and above it.

Aerospace employees working in organizations with technical responsibilities are required to obtain a Security Clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.