FPGA Engineer

avav; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Holiday shutdown

Job summary

AV’s Space Tech Division in Albuquerque seeks an FPGA Engineer to design RTL/firmware for space electronics, FPGAs, and RTOS‑based systems. You’ll deploy firmware to hardware and collaborate across disciplines to meet mission requirements.

You bring 2–3 years of hardware design with VHDL/Verilog, and you’re capable of working under NASA/ MIL-STD guidelines while growing your expertise in high‑reliability aerospace environments.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years of professional hardware design experience.
• Proficient with VHDL or Verilog for RTL/firmware development.
• Experience deploying firmware to physical devices and validating designs.

Responsibilities

• Design & Develop: Author and maintain RTL/firmware for space electronics, FPGAs, MCU/RTOS systems.
• Build Critical Interfaces: Develop firmware for ADC/DAC, SpaceWire, SPI, CameraLink, 1Gb+ Ethernet, MIL‑1553B.
• Automate & Deploy: Create FPGA build scripts and deploy firmware to hardware.
• Optimize for Space: Ensure fault tolerance and high reliability in radiation-hardened environments.
• Test & Validate: Hardware‑in‑the‑loop integration and aerospace condition testing.
• Ensure Excellence: Align with NASA, ESA, MIL‑STD standards.

Skills

Hardware design

RTL/firmware development

C/C++ programming

Python scripting

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field

Tools

Xilinx Vivado

Libero (Microchip/Liber o)

SpaceWire interface knowledge

SPI / MIL-STD interfaces

Job description

Worker Type: Regular

FPGA Engineer – Space Technology

At AV, we push the limits of what’s possible in aerospace and defense. Our Space Tech Division is a fast‑paced, multi‑disciplinary team developing high‑performance electromechanical, electro‑optical, control, and communication systems. From advanced digital signal processing algorithms to integrated SoC/FPGA architectures, we build the brains behind next‑generation space technology.

We are looking for an adaptable, curious, and skilled FPGA Engineer to join us. If you enjoy a role where no two days are exactly the same and you are eager to grow your skills alongside industry experts, we want to hear from you.

Your Day‑to‑Day (Key Responsibilities)

• Design & Develop: Author and maintain general‑purpose and mission‑specific RTL/firmware for space electronics, FPGAs, microcontrollers, and RTOS‑based systems.


• Build Critical Interfaces: Develop firmware for vital peripheral interfaces, including Converters (ADC/DAC) and high‑speed communication links (SpaceWire, SPI, CameraLink, 1Gb+ Ethernet, MIL‑1553B).


• Automate & Deploy: Create and optimize automated FPGA platform build scripts, and get hands‑on by deploying firmware directly to physical hardware.


• Optimize for Space: Fine‑tune embedded software to ensure fault tolerance and high reliability in radiation‑hardened environments.


• Test & Validate: Conduct hardware‑in‑the‑loop system integration, testing, and validation under both simulated and real‑world aerospace conditions.


• Ensure Excellence: Support the team in maintaining alignment with rigorous space industry standards (NASA, ESA, MIL‑STD).

What You Bring (Qualifications)

We are seeking a foundational engineer who loves solving hardware puzzles and is ready to take their experience to the next level.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.


• Core Experience: 2–3 years of professional experience (non‑academic) designing with Hardware Description Languages (VHDL or Verilog).


• Hands‑on Skills: Proven experience deploying firmware to physical devices, as well as conducting system integration, testing, and validation.


• Security: Ability to obtain and maintain a US security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications (The \"Nice‑to‑Haves\")

If you have familiarity with or exposure to any of the following, we’d love to talk about it!

• Hardware & Tools: Experience with Xilinx devices/toolchains (Zynq, Virtex, Kintex via Vivado/ISE) or Microchip devices/toolchains (RTAX, ProASIC, RTG4 via Libero).


• Design Techniques: Familiarity with multiple clock‑domain design, physical constraints, floor planning, and in‑system debuggers/logic analyzers.


• Software & Scripting: Knowledge of C/C++, Python, Java, or Tool Command Language (TCL).


• Verification & Architecture: Exposure to linting, constrained random testing, RTOS, bare‑metal development, or hardware‑software co‑design.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (\"ITAR\") and/or the Export Administration Regulations (\"EAR\"). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants will be asked to provide specific documentation to verify U.S. person status under the ITAR and the EAR. A “U.S. person” according to their definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee, or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits

AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.