Senior Firmware Engineer

NPAworldwide; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

NPAworldwide is seeking an experienced Firmware Engineer to contribute to the development of space-grade electro-optical systems from our Herndon location. You will lead firmware architecture and end-to-end development for space-based payloads, working closely with hardware, systems, and optical engineers to ensure seamless integration and robust, testable designs.

The role requires 7+ years in firmware, proficiency in VHDL/SystemVerilog, DSP and high-speed interfaces, and experience with FPGA

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience in firmware engineering.
• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience with VHDL and SystemVerilog for FPGA/testing.
• Strong background in DSP, timing, and optical communications (LIDAR).
• Proficiency with high-speed serial links (GTY/GTM, JESD204B/C, Ethernet, SpaceWire).
• Experience with GitHub, CI/CD for FPGA flows, automated linting, synthesis, and bitstream generation.

Responsibilities

• Lead firmware architecture and implementation for space-based payloads and laser systems.
• Oversee end-to-end firmware lifecycle from requirements to validation.
• Collaborate with hardware, software, and optical engineers to define interfaces and ensure integration.
• Participate in iterative development cycles with rapid feedback and frequent integrations.
• Conduct lab debugging and hardware-in-the-loop testing with diagnostic tools.
• Support code reviews, documentation, and process improvements.
• Apply space-grade techniques like fault tolerance and radiation mitigation.

Skills

Firmware engineering

VHDL

SystemVerilog

DSP

FPGA development

GitHub CI/CD

lab debugging

Education

BS/MS in EE or equivalent

Tools

Xilinx

Microchip

Lattice

Job description

Job Description

We are looking for an experienced Firmware Engineer to contribute to the development of products on our Research and Development Division in Herndon VA.

We are a leading developer of laser and electro-optic systems for the aerospace community, with key contributions to lasers for atmospheric sensing, laser communications, and lidar sensors for NASA, DoD, and commercial customers.

Essential Job Duties

• Lead and contribute to firmware architecture and implementation for space-based electro-optical payloads and laser systems
• Perform end-to-end firmware development lifecycle: from requirements analysis through design, coding, simulation, verification, and validation
• Collaborate closely with hardware, systems, software, and optical engineers in cross-functional teams to define interfaces, resolve design issues, and ensure seamless system integration
• Participate in task-based iterative development cycles, incorporating rapid feedback, frequent integration points, and incremental testing to meet mission reliability goals
• Conduct lab-based debugging, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and system-level validation using diagnostic tools and protocols
• Support peer code reviews, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement of development processes and best practices
• Apply high-reliability and space-grade techniques (e.g., fault tolerance, radiation mitigation) in a collaborative, team-oriented environment Contribute to documentation, design reviews, and risk identification throughout the product lifecycle

Job Requirements

• Experience and Expertise Required 7+ years relevant experience BS/MS in EE or equivalent Expertise with firmware engineering, VHDL (RTL), System Verilog (Testing) Expertise with Digital Signal Processing, precision timing, optical comms (modems), LIDAR Experience with Xilinx, Microchip, and Lattice FPGAs and their associated development tools Experience developing test benches and running simulations to exercise the design and to verify compliance Experience interfacing and working with hardware designers during development, integration, and test phases Experience using schematics and block diagrams as inputs for firmware design Experience in high-speed serial links: GTY/GTM, JESD204B/C, Ethernet, SpaceWire Experience in standard peripheral interfaces: SPI, I2C, UART, LVDS, etc. Experience in memory interfaces: DDR3/4, QDR, FRAM, etc. Experience with GitHub, CI/CD for FPGA flows, code reviews, automated linting, synthesis, regression testing, timing closure, bitstream generation, release tagging

Bonus Areas

• Experience in Python for build/testing automation and data analysis Experience with Linux, scripting, Docker containers, and automation Experience developing Hi-Rel/Space programs and TMR coding Experience developing code (C, C++) for microcontrollers Experience with VS Code

Why Is This a Great Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Firmware Engineer to contribute to the development of products on our Research and Development Division in Herndon VA.

As part of our R&D division, you would join our firmware team to develop, integrate, and test our firmware products in our spaced-based, electro-optical systems.

Salary

Salary Type : Annual Salary

Salary Min : $ 140000

Salary Max : $ 210000

Currency Type : USD