Hardware Engineer - Aerospace

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

Job summary

Great River Technology is seeking a Hardware Engineer with 3–5 years of experience to design, develop, and verify high‑performance digital hardware for aerospace applications. You will work on ARINC 818 interfaces, FPGA firmware, and VHDL code, collaborating with Systems and Software teams to ensure robust, mission‑critical solutions.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer/Aerospace Engineering and hands‑on experience with Xilinx Vivado, ModelSim/QuestaSim, and lab test

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, Aerospace, or related field.
• 3–5 years of hardware design and development experience in aerospace/high‑reliability electronics.
• Solid understanding of VHDL and FPGA workflows (Xilinx Vivado).
• Experience with ARINC 818 interfaces and high‑speed digital designs.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and verify VHDL code for FPGAs used in aerospace applications.
• Implement ARINC 818 interfaces and high‑speed digital blocks.
• Collaborate with Systems, Software, and Manufacturing teams for HW/SW integration.
• Contribute to hardware development lifecycle from schematic capture to verification.

Skills

VHDL

FPGA development

Digital circuit design

Signal integrity

Test equipment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

ModelSim/QuestaSim

Altium

Xilinx Vivado

Job description

Company Overview

For more than 60 years, Data Device Corporation (DDC) has been recognized as a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-reliability Connectivity, Power, and Control solutions for the Aerospace, Defense, and Space industries. Our dedication to supplying quality products, on-time delivery, and superior support, has contributed to the success of our customers and the critical missions they serve.

Great River Technology (GRT) located in Albuquerque, NM, a wholly owned subsidiary of Data Device Corporation, is a leader in high performance digital video and data development tools and services for the mil/aero industry. Since it’s founding in 1996, it has developed partnerships with leading commercial and military companies worldwide.

This position is 100% onsite at GRT in Albuquerque, NM.

Due to U.S. export control requirements, this position is open only to candidates who qualify as a “U.S. Person.” This generally includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents/green card holders, and certain protected individuals, including refugees and asylees.

Hardware Engineer (3 – 5 Years Experience)

Role Overview

We are seeking a motivated and skilled Hardware Engineer with 3 to 5 years of experience to join our engineering team. In this role, you will contribute to the design, development, and verification of high-performance digital hardware and FPGA architectures for advanced aerospace applications. You will work alongside senior engineers to implement ARINC 818 interfaces, high-speed digital designs, and mission-critical FPGA firmware.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the design and implementation of ARINC 818 interfaces, including Fibre Channel protocols, video formats, timing, and link integrity.
• Support the integration and testing of ARINC 818 systems using laboratory test equipment and custom test setups.
• Help develop and execute test procedures for compliance, robustness, and performance validation.

VHDL Development & FPGA Design

• Design, develop, and verify VHDL code for FPGAs (e.g., Xilinx) used in aerospace applications.
• Participate in FPGA constraint management, timing closure, synthesis, and place-and-route optimization.
• Implement digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms and video processing blocks within FPGA logic.
• Build and maintain testbenches and verification environments to ensure functional correctness.

Hardware Development Life Cycle

• Contribute to the full lifecycle hardware development of airborne electronic systems, from schematic capture and detailed design through laboratory integration and verification.
• Perform basic circuit analysis, including power consumption, component stress, and worst-case checks under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Collaborate with Systems, Software, and Manufacturing teams to ensure seamless hardware-software integration.
• Perform product configuration management and product lifecycle management
• Support customer system-level integration and troubleshooting

Certification & Compliance

• Assist in generating and reviewing airworthiness and compliance documentation, such as requirements specifications, design descriptions, and qualification test reports.
• Ensure all designs follow internal coding standards, aerospace guidelines, and industry best practices.

Problem Solving & Continuous Learning

• Troubleshoot and resolve hardware and firmware issues using laboratory diagnostic tools (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, etc.).
• Stay current with emerging trends in digital video, high-speed serial protocols, and FPGA technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience: 3 to 5 years of professional engineering experience in hardware design and development, preferably within the aerospace, defense, or high-reliability electronics industry.
• Technical Skills:
  • Solid understanding of VHDL and FPGA development workflows (e.g., Xilinx Vivado).
  • Familiarity with digital circuit design principles, high-speed digital interfaces, and basic signal integrity concepts.
  • Experience using Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools for simulation (e.g., ModelSim/QuestaSim) and schematic capture (e.g. Altium).
  • Hands‑on experience with laboratory test equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and multimeters.
• Soft Skills: Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills, with a collaborative mindset and eagerness to learn from senior mentors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with ARINC 818 or other video standards (e.g. HDMI, NTSC, VGA).
• Experience with scripting languages (such as Python) for test automation and data analysis.
• Prior exposure to DO-254 and DO-160 certification processes.