Hardware Engineer (High Performance Computing Digital Design Engineering) - Mid to Experienced [...]

National Security Agency; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

National Security Agency in Fort Meade is seeking engineers to architect, design, and verify next-generation high performance computing solutions that support the Agency's mission. You will work on RTL design, FPGA firmware, PCB design, and system-level verification to ensure top-quality supercomputing platforms for NSA and partners.

We value expertise in computer design, microelectronics, RF design, and systems engineering, and you will collaborate with customers to clarify needs, explore

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or related field.
• ABET-accredited or equivalent coursework including calculus and topics like circuits, digital design, signal processing or related areas.
• Experience in digital design, HDL, FPGA, PCB, or electronics hardware development.

Responsibilities

• Accelerate application performance using RTL design.
• Develop and integrate FPGA firmware.
• RTL design closure via simulation, verification, synthesis, and timing analysis.
• PCB logic design, simulation and test; PCB layout.
• Create and maintain documentation on technical information.
• Modeling and simulation to evaluate design alternatives.

Skills

RTL design

FPGA firmware

HDL design

PCB design

Signal Integrity

Documentation

Modeling & simulation

Customer liaison

C/C++ programming

UVM

EDA tools

Education

Engineering, Physics or related field

Tools

CAD software

EDA tools

Job description

Responsibilities

With the ever-increasing technological complexities in the world of supercomputers, we need talented computer and electrical engineers to be part of our team architecting, designing and verifying the next generation of high performance computing solutions (HPCS) that will support of our mission. Our goal is to provide supercomputers of the highest quality to ensure the success of the NSA and its partners.

• Accelerating application performance using Register Transfer Level (RTL) design
• Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) firmware development and integration
• RTL design closure using logic simulation, functional verification, synthesis, and timing analysis
• Printed Circuit Board (PCB) logic design, simulation and test
• PCB layout
• Signal Integrity / Power Integrity
• Commercial systems acquisition and contracting
• Create and maintain documentation on technical information
• Operate specialized scientific and technical equipment
• Attend conferences and communicate with people in a particular technical field to keep abreast of new technologies and information
• Conduct research including studies, experiments, and investigations
• Research emerging technologies for application(s) within the Agency
• Serve as a subject matter expert to support research and development efforts
• Work with customers to clarify their needs and to determine how their needs can be met
• Modeling and simulation to evaluate design alternatives

Responsibilities

With the ever-increasing technological complexities in the world of supercomputers, we need talented computer and electrical engineers to be part of our team architecting, designing and verifying the next generation of high performance computing solutions (HPCS) that will support of our mission. Our goal is to provide supercomputers of the highest quality to ensure the success of the NSA and its partners.

• Accelerating application performance using Register Transfer Level (RTL) design
• Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) firmware development and integration
• RTL design closure using logic simulation, functional verification, synthesis, and timing analysis
• Printed Circuit Board (PCB) logic design, simulation and test
• PCB layout
• Signal Integrity / Power Integrity
• Commercial systems acquisition and contracting
• Create and maintain documentation on technical information
• Operate specialized scientific and technical equipment
• Attend conferences and communicate with people in a particular technical field to keep abreast of new technologies and information
• Conduct research including studies, experiments, and investigations
• Research emerging technologies for application(s) within the Agency
• Serve as a subject matter expert to support research and development efforts
• Work with customers to clarify their needs and to determine how their needs can be met
• Modeling and simulation to evaluate design alternatives

Job Summary

As a Technical Intelligence & Science Services professional, you will use your skills to create the systems and tools that will be used to enhance the operation of intelligence. You will advise, administer and perform scientific projects, such as planning, designing, and constructing specialized equipment, and ensuring adherence to sound engineering and scientific standards and principles. The NSA offers multiple areas of focus for facilities engineers, including computer, architectural, electrical, mechanical, and structural. In addition, we are seeking skills that include computer design, microelectronics, radio frequency design, and systems engineering. Apply your science and engineering skills to protect the nation.

Qualifications

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position. Degree must be in Engineering, Physics, Material Science, or related field (for example, electronics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics). For Engineering degrees, if program is not ABET accredited, it must include specified coursework.* *Specified coursework includes courses in differential and integral calculus and 5 of the following 18 areas: (a) statics or dynamics, (b) strength of materials/stress-strain relationships, (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics, (d) thermodynamics, (e) electromagnetic fields, (f) nature and properties of materials/relating particle and aggregate structure to properties, (g) solid state electronics, (h) microprocessor applications, (i), computer systems, (j) signal processing, (k) digital design, (l) systems and control theory, (m) circuits or generalized circuits, (n) communication systems, (o) power systems, (p) computer networks, (q) software development, (r) Any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, or soil mechanics. Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: digital equipment design; assembling computers; hardware description language (HDL); embedded software development; design verification; microarchitecture design or modeling; configuration management; design or analysis of integrated or electronic circuits; using computer-aided design (CAD) software; using electronic design automation (EDA) tools; hardware/software test plan development; development, design, assembly, test and debug, or validation of electronics systems (e.g., integrated or electronic circuits, custom multichip modules (MCMs), printed circuit boards (PCBs), high density redistribution layers, 3D multi-layer integrated technologies, or system enclosures); chemical and physical de-processing of integrated circuit (IC) devices using reactive ion etching, ion beam milling, wet chemistry, or chemical mechanical polishing (CMP); imaging of integrated circuits using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or focused ion beam (FIB) tools. Project management experience or project management certification (for example, DAWIA, PMP) may count for up to 1 year of experience. FULL PERFORMANCE Entry is with an Associate's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree and no experience. SENIOR Entry is with an Associate's degree plus 9 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 7 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree plus 3 years of relevant experience.

U.S. Citizenship is required for all applicants. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a security background investigation and polygraph. All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564. NSA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities during the application and hiring process.

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position. Salary Range: $105,262 - $192,764 (Full Performance, Senior) Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position. Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience. Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package. Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible). DCIPS Trial Period: If selected for this position, you will be required to serve a two-year DCIPS trial period, unless you are a veterans' preference-eligible employee, in which case you are required to serve a one-year trial period. This trial period runs concurrently with your commitment to the position, if applicable. Before finalizing your appointment at the conclusion of your trial period, NSA will determine whether your continued employment advances the public interest. This decision will be based on factors such as your performance and conduct; the Agency's needs and interests; whether your continued employment would advance the Agency's organizational goals; or whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. If you do not receive certification for continued employment, you should receive written notice prior to the end of your trial period that your employment will be terminated and the effective date of such termination.

DCIPS Disclaimer

• VETERANS AND TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS** Thank you for your service! The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions at NSA are in the Excepted Service under Title 10, United States Codes (U.S.C.), Section 1601 appointment authority. Veterans' Preference In accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, "DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System Employment and Placement," NSA applies veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5, U.S.C., to eligible candidates. If you are claiming veterans' preference, you are required to provide acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility upon application. Acceptable documentation includes: - DD-214: "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions (Copy 4); OR - Certification of Service: A written document on letterhead from the appropriate branch of the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should include the military service dates, including the expected discharge or release date; AND - Standard Form 15 (SF-15) Application for 10-point Veteran Preference (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf). If you are claiming a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more, the documentation you provide must specifically demonstrate this level of disability; AND - VA Letter of Disability (for 10pt and Sole Survivorship rating) You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/). **Failure to provide sufficient documentation of veterans' preference eligibility may preclude NSA from identifying you as a preference eligible candidate during the hiring selection process.

Skills

The ideal candidate is someone with excellent problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills who is:

• Motivated
• Creative
• Able to work effectively across several different functional areas in a collaborative environment
• Well-organized and able to handle multiple assignments
• Customer service and requirements focused
• Detail oriented

Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following is desired:

• Concepts, theories, and methods for designing, analyzing, testing, and verifying large scale computational and data storage systems
• Translate conceptual designs into technical specifications
• Designing digital logic (e.g., FPGAs, ASICs)
• Experience using Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools
• Unified Verification Methodology (UVM)
• Applying engineering principles to design and layout PCBs
• Firmware development for configuring and controlling hardware devices
• Evaluate information in technical documents to understand its importance and significance
• Operate specialized scientific and technical equipment
• Applied Cryptography and Mathematics
• Programming Languages (C, C++, OpenCL, Perl, Python, TCL)
• Hardware description languages (VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog)
• Computer System Architecture and Design
• Computer Networks and Security
• CPU and GPU processor architectures
• Memory, interconnect, and storage architectures