Senior Firmware Engineer

Fibertek Inc; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive and incentivized compensation package

Excellent benefits

Progressive learning environment

Job summary

A leading aerospace technology firm in Herndon, VA, is seeking a Senior Firmware Engineer to lead development for space-based electro-optical systems. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience in firmware engineering, particularly in high-speed communication and digital signal processing. You will work in a collaborative environment, contributing to innovative projects for NASA and DoD clients. A competitive compensation package and excellent benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• 7+ years relevant experience in firmware engineering.
• Expertise in Digital Signal Processing and precision timing.

Responsibilities

• Lead firmware architecture and implementation for space-based systems.
• Perform end-to-end firmware development lifecycle.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define interfaces.

Skills

Firmware engineering

Digital Signal Processing

VHDL (RTL)

System Verilog (Testing)

High-speed serial links

Peripheral interfaces: SPI, I2C, UART

Memory interfaces: DDR3/4, QDR

GitHub, CI/CD

Education

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Xilinx development tools

Microchip FPGAs

Lattice FPGAs

Job description

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Job Title

Senior Firmware Engineer

Location

Herndon, VA - Herndon, VA 20171 US (Primary)

Job Description

Fibertek, Inc. is 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. 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 Fibertek’s spaced-based, electro-optical systems.

• 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 with VS Code

FIBERTEK, Inc. is a recognized leader in advanced lasers, lidars and laser communication systems providing our DoD, NASA and aerospace customers discriminating capabilities. We pride ourselves in our innovation and customer success focused culture enabled by a creative and relaxed work environment. Fibertek fosters a progressive learning environment that values inspiration, promotes professional challenge and encourages personal growth. We offer a competitive and incentivized compensation package with excellent benefits.Fibertek, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual merit, skills, and experience. Fibertek does not engage in nor permits any discrimination in the workplace.