Senior FPGA Engineer

AeroVironment, Inc.; Florida; On-site; USD 91,000 - 139,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K with company match

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. in Sunrise, FL is seeking an experienced Senior FPGA Engineer to design and implement complex FPGA-based systems for defense and communications applications.

You will work with a multidisciplinary team across hardware, software, DSP, and systems engineering, taking concepts from architecture through verification while mentoring and guiding junior engineers on technical directions. This role offers leadership and hands-on problem solving in a dynamic environment with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical/computer engineering with 8 years of experience, or Master’s with 6 years of experience.
• Proficiency in digital design and simulation.
• Proficiency in hardware description languages (HDLs), preferably VHDL.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Subject matter expert in at least one area with broad knowledge across related domains.

Responsibilities

• Design complex digital hardware and FPGA-based systems.
• Prepare full project design documentation including requirements, design specs, test plans, and reports.
• Design and conduct experiments; analyze data to validate system performance.
• Collaborate with hardware, FPGA, DSP, software, systems, and test engineers throughout the lifecycle.
• Assign tasks to engineers, technicians, and staff; manage schedules and budgets.
• Prepare scopes of work, budgets, and schedules for projects.
• Assist in proposals to obtain funding for engineering projects.

Skills

Digital design

FPGA engineering

HDL (VHDL)

C/C++ basics

Mentoring / leadership

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Master’s degree in a related field

Tools

Xilinx FPGA

Intel/Altera FPGA

TFS

Git

Job description

Worker Type Regular Job Description AV’s Electronic Warfare business unit is seeking an experienced FPGA Engineer to join our team in Sunrise, Florida. This is an opportunity to work on sophisticated digital hardware and FPGA-based systems that support advanced defense, communications, sensing, and electronic warfare capabilities. As a Senior FPGA Engineer, you’ll help take complex system concepts from architecture and design through simulation, implementation, integration, and verification. You’ll work alongside talented electrical, FPGA, software, DSP, and systems engineers to create hardware that is high-performing, robust, maintainable, and intentionally simple. This role is designed for an engineer who enjoys both hands‑on technical problem solving and technical leadership. Depending on your interests and business needs, you may grow along a leadership path—guiding engineers and technicians—or a technical path, becoming a subject matter expert in a critical area of digital hardware and FPGA technology.

Primary Responsibilities Include

• Design complex digital hardware and FPGA-based systems.
• Prepare complete project design documentation, including requirements, design specifications, test plans, and reports.
• Design and conduct experiments; analyze and interpret data to validate system and component performance.
• Collaborate with hardware, FPGA, DSP, software, systems, and test engineers throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Assign tasks to and direct engineers, technicians, and administrative staff.
• Plan and coordinate detailed aspects of engineering work, ensuring technical quality and schedule adherence.
• Prepare scopes of work, budgets, and schedules for assigned projects.
• Assist in the preparation of proposals to obtain funding for engineering projects and programs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and 8 years of relevant digital design and/or FPGA engineering experience or a Master’s Degree and 6 years of prior relevant experience.
• Demonstrated proficiency in digital design and simulation.
• Demonstrated proficiency in hardware description languages (HDLs), preferably VHDL.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Technical Depth & Breadth: Experience with several of the systems and technologies outlined below. Serves as a subject matter expert (SME) in at least one area or system outlined below. Maintains a working knowledge in a number of other specialization areas outlined below.

Technical Competencies

• Software-defined radios (SDR)
• HDL fundamentals
• TFS and Git revision control tools
• Basic C/C++ programming
• Testbenches, simulation, automation, and debug
• Xilinx and Altera (Intel) FPGA devices
• Digital and analog circuits
• Basic network technologies (e.g., Ethernet, TCP/IP)
• Device and part evaluation and selection
• System design concept and planning
• Basic FPGA/ASIC design
• Script writing to control synthesis and build tools
• Basic physical layers (e.g., GMR, WiMAX, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth)

Additional Competencies

• Design – Generates creative solutions; translates concepts and information into images; uses feedback to modify designs; applies design principles; demonstrates attention to detail.
• Innovation – Displays original thinking and creativity; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas; presents ideas and information in a manner that gains others’ attention; participates in the SRT patent process.
• Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem‑solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
• Quality – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure it meets established quality standards.

Why Join AV?

At AV’s Electronic Warfare business unit, you’ll work on challenging technology where advanced digital hardware, FPGA processing, communications, and real-time systems come together to support critical defense missions. Located in Sunrise, Florida, this team offers experienced engineers the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of complex designs, collaborate with highly skilled multidisciplinary teams, and help turn ambitious system concepts into real-world capabilities. If you’re an experienced FPGA engineer who wants to solve challenging problems, influence architecture, mentor others, and build the FPGA-based technology behind next‑generation electronic warfare systems, we want to hear from you.

Clearance Level No Clearance

The salary range for this role is: $91,000 - $138,750 AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A "U.S. person" according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits

AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits. We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV. We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

Careers at AeroVironment