Firmware Engineer II, FPGA

Advanced Energy; Eden Prairie (MN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Advanced Energy in Eden Prairie, MN, seeks a Firmware Engineer to design, implement, and verify FPGA-based control and signal processing solutions for mission-critical applications. You will work with hardware, software, and systems engineers to translate complex requirements into robust digital architectures from concept through release.

Meets requirements include 2–5 years FPGA development, VHDL/Vivado expertise, and strong debugging skills.

Qualifications

• Understanding of control systems and their application to power electronics or motor drives.
• Knowledge of VHDL design using Xilinx Vivado and Mentor Questasim.
• Exposure to AMD/Xilinx FPGA and FPGA SoC technologies, including Zynq UltraScale+ and Series 7 devices.
• Proficient in Vivado (GUI and TCL) and design optimization.
• Timing analysis, timing closure, and design pipelining.
• FPGA design blocks like CDC, AXI, Wishbone, and arbitration logic.
• Troubleshooting hardware with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and JTAG.
• FPGA-based DSP design including FIR, IIR, CIC filters.
• Git version control proficiency.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Research, design, and development of RTL logic designs for FPGAs.
• Apply DSP concepts to develop robust solutions.
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams to define interfaces and performance.
• Develop verification test benches for logic design simulation and documentation.
• Estimate and validate software effort within project constraints.
• Perform hardware design reviews and system-level analysis.
• Design, develop, and maintain FPGA RTL logic.
• Collaborate to define interfaces and system requirements.
• Develop FPGA verification test benches and documentation.
• Support project planning, scoping, and validation of requirements.
• Participate in design reviews and hardware evaluations for mission-critical applications.

Skills

Control systems

VHDL design

DSP concepts

Hardware debugging

Strong communication

Education

B.S. in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Tools

Xilinx Vivado

Mentor Questasim

Git

JIRA

Confluence

Bitbucket

C++

Job description

About Advanced Energy

Advanced Energy (Nasdaq: AEIS) is a global leader in the design and manufacturing of highly engineered, precision power conversion, measurement and control solutions for mission-critical applications and processes. AE’s power solutions enable customer innovation in complex applications for a wide range of industries including semiconductor equipment, industrial, manufacturing, telecommunications, data center computing and healthcare. Advanced Energy has devoted four decades to perfecting power for its global customers and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

WHY BE A PART OF ADVANCED ENERGY?

Some people say it’s like working in the best of two worlds. We operate like an agile, growing, small company - you can see your work make a difference to the company every day. Things move quickly and you can see and feel it. At the same time, we’re a global company founded in 1981 and have been publicly traded for more than 28 years. We have a strong cash position, deep trust and partnership with leading customers, a global best-in-class operations capability, and a proven leadership team. We have a track record and resources to make things happen both organically and inorganically. Being part of a nimble company with a solid foundation attracts team members that are capable, driven and like a challenge. Our employees collaborate and know how to have fun inventing, working, building and winning together. At our core, we are Advanced Energy - powering the future, together.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Join Advanced Energy's firmware engineering team and help develop the next generation of intelligent power conversion solutions. As a Firmware Engineer, you will design, implement, and verify FPGA-based control and signal processing solutions that power mission-critical applications across semiconductor, industrial, and advanced technology markets. Working closely with hardware, software, and systems engineers, you will translate complex requirements into robust digital architectures while contributing throughout the product lifecycle, from concept and development through validation and release. This is an opportunity to solve challenging technical problems, develop innovative FPGA solutions, and directly influence products used by leading technology companies around the world.

RESPONSI­BILITIES:

• Responsible for research, design, and development of logic designs in RTL as applicable to FPGAs.
• Apply rigorous engineering and DSP concepts towards the development of solutions.
• Works closely with cross functional members of the engineering organization to develop and evaluate interfaces between hardware and software, and operational performance requirements and design of the overall system.
• Develops verification test benches towards logic design simulation and related documentation.
• Contributes to determining, estimating, and validating the cost and scope of software efforts to ensure software performed meets program cost, schedule, and technical constraints.
• Perform technical review, design analysis, development and selection of hardware for mission critical systems.
• Design, develop, and maintain FPGA RTL logic designs.
• Apply engineering and DSP principles to develop robust technical solutions.
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams to define interfaces, requirements, and system performance.
• Develop and execute FPGA verification test benches and supporting documentation.
• Support project planning through effort estimation, scope definition, and validation of technical requirements.
• Participate in design reviews, hardware evaluations, and system-level analysis for mission-critical applications.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Location: Eden Prairie, MN
• Environment: Combination of office, engineering laboratory, and manufacturing environments.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Understanding of control systems and their application to power electronics or motor drives.
• Knowledge of VHDL design experience using Xilinx Vivado and Mentor Questasim.
• Exposure to AMD/Xilinx FPGA and FPGA SoC technologies, including Zynq UltraScale+ and Series 7 devices.
• Proficient in Vivado (GUI and TCL), including design optimization and floor planning.
• Familiarity with timing analysis, timing closure, and design pipelining.
• Detailed understanding of FPGA design building blocks such as CDC, AXI, Wishbone, and arbitration logic.
• Ability to troubleshoot hardware using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and JTAG debuggers.
• Experience with FPGA-based DSP design, including FIR, IIR, and CIC filters.
• Proficiency in Git version control.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred

• MATLAB and/or Python for filter design and tool development.
• C++ programming experience.
• Familiarity with JIRA, Confluence, and Bitbucket.

EXPERIENCE

• 2-5 years of FPGA development experience.
• Experience collaborating with hardware and software teams.
• Knowledge of embedded processors, FPGA test benches, and design verification.
• Required hands-on laboratory and hardware debugging experience.

EDUCATION

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical or Computer Engineering or related field.

COMPENSATION

As required by multiple state pay transparency laws, Advanced Energy provides a reasonable range of compensation for each job posting. Actual compensation is influenced by an array of factors including, but not limited to, skill set, level of experience, and specific office location. The range of starting pay for this role is $85,000 to $125,000 per year.

BENEFITS

As part of our total rewards philosophy, we believe in offering and maintaining competitive compensation and benefits programs for our employees to attract and retain a talented, highly engaged workforce. Our compensation programs are focused on equitable, fair pay practices including market-based base pay, an annual pay-for-performance incentive plan, and discounted Employee Stock Purchase Plan. In addition to our competitive compensation practices, we offer a strong benefits package in each of the countries in which we operate. In the U.S., we offer a rich benefits package that includes:

• Medical - multiple medical plans are available to choose from
• Short and long-term disability and life insurance
• Health savings and flexible spending accounts
• Generous time off policy starting with 3 weeks of paid vacation, 7 days of paid sick time, and 12 paid holidays
• 8 hours of paid volunteer time off
• 8 weeks of paid parental leave for both parents
• Company matched 401(k)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Expanded mental health coverage and employee assistance programs
• Other voluntary benefits include critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity, pet insurance, identity theft, and legal assistance

Advanced Energy is committed to diversity in its workforce including Equal Employment Opportunity for Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.

Advanced Energy is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our job application process/procedures for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance in completing an Advanced Energy application, please reach out to [e-mail].