Principal FPGA Design Engineer

RTX (Raytheon); Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defense company, is seeking a Principal FPGA Design Engineer in Tucson, AZ. You will develop FPGA/ASIC solutions, architect FPGA‑based systems, and translate system requirements into FPGA implementations, primarily using VHDL/Verilog across Xilinx and Microsemi devices.

The role requires 8+ years in FPGA/ASIC design or verification, hands‑on integration and debugging, and collaboration with systems engineers and product teams to meet demanding mission

Qualifications

• Typically requires a STEM degree and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience.
• FPGA/ASIC design (VHDL and/or Verilog coding) or FPGA/ASIC verification (SystemVerilog coding).
• Xilinx or Microsemi devices and flow tools.
• Delivering FPGA/ASIC solutions to system level applications.
• Hands on experience with integration and debug of FPGA/ASIC devices.

Responsibilities

• Deliver production‑quality FPGA releases from initial proof of concept to production.
• Architect FPGA‑based systems to determine parts, interfaces, and CONOPS.
• Translate system‑level requirements into FPGA requirements.
• Design and code in VHDL for reliability and maintainability.
• Verify designs using directed and constrained random tests with code coverage.
• Drive projects and execute schedules on time and budget.
• Create complete documentation including requirements and verification plans.
• Coaches, reviews, and delegates work to junior engineers.
• Support internal and external technical reviews and customer interactions.

Skills

FPGA/ASIC design

VHDL/Verilog coding

SystemVerilog verification

Integration & debug

Requirement translation

Education

STEM degree

Tools

Xilinx devices

Microsemi devices

FPGA flow tools

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-10-15

Country: United States of America

Location: US-AZ-TUCSON-M02 ~ 1151 E Hermans Rd ~ BLDG M02

Position Role Type: Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Security Clearance Type: DoD Clearance: Secret

Security Clearance Status: Ability to obtain INTERIM U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date

At RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world's most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world‑class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.

Raytheon brings the strength of more than 100 years of experience and renowned engineering expertise to meet the needs of today's mission and stay ahead of tomorrow's threat. We deliver solutions that help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense. The Effector Digital Products (EDP) department develops electronics for our weapon system products. We are responsible for the architecture, design, and documentation of deliverable FPGA embedded processing. We engage at the outset of the weapon system development and follow our designs through deployment. Our products are deployed all over the world, from the ground to exoatmospheric environments and into space.

As a Principal FPGA Design Engineer you will develop FPGA designs for all major vendors and device families including: Xilinx, Altera, and Microsemi. Designs are implemented using VHDL for the following applications: gigabit serial interfaces, Radio Frequency (RF) and Electro‑Optical (EO) DSP, controls, data links, embedded processing and processor interfaces.

Designers work with circuit card designers and systems engineers to develop requirements, architect new parts, collaborative modeling of algorithms, partition and perform code development, simulation, and place and route. Designs are verified against requirements using both directed test and constrained random methodologies. Design support is expected from requirements definition through integration and test. Design documentation and configuration management are required.

This position is 100% ONSITE in Tucson, Arizona.

What You Will Do

• Deliver production‑quality FPGA releases from initial proof of concept to production
• Architect FPGA‑based systems to determine parts, interfaces, and Concept of Operations (CONOPS)
• Translate system‑level requirements into FPGA requirements.
• Design and code in VHDL for reliability and maintainability.
• Verify designs utilizing self‑checking techniques with directed and constrained random tests, while tracking functional and code coverage.
• Drive projects and execute program schedules on time and budget.
• Create complete documentation including requirements, verification plans, and user's guides.
• Manage moderately sized projects or processes
• Viewed as subject‑matter expert within discipline
• Able to operate with minimal oversight from manager
• Coaches, reviews, and delegates work to junior engineers
• Support internal and external technical reviews
• Support customer interactions and relations
• Make improvements to processes, systems or products to enhance overall performance

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience
• FPGA/ASIC design (VHDL and/or Verilog coding) or FPGA/ASIC verification (SystemVerilog coding)
• Xilinx or Microsemi devices and flow tools
• Delivering FPGA/ASIC solutions to system level applications
• Hands on experience with integration and debug of FPGA/ASIC devices

Qualifications We Prefer

• FPGA design experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Radar processing techniques
• Image processing techniques for visual and infrared sensors
• Embedded systems design using ARM, Microblaze, or Nios processors
• Gigabit serial interfaces and multi‑gigabit transceivers (MGT's)
• Experience leading technical teams and programs

What We Offer

Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer, more connected world. At RTX we value: Safety, Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation.

• This position offers relocation