Senior FPGA Engineer

Kapta Space; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 215,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Job summary

Kapta Space seeks a Senior FPGA Engineer in Seattle to lead RTL design and FPGA development for radar operations and algorithm implementation. The role requires coordinating with cross‑functional teams to build reliable embedded firmware for our radar payload.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in embedded firmware, RTL design experience for satellite applications, and comfort with Verilog/VHDL, I2C/SPI/UART, and modern Git/CI workflows. Equity grants are part of the compensation package.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Assist multi-disciplinary team in creating firmware requirements.
• Architect, design, and implement software for our Radar Sensor.
• Work with radar algorithm, hardware, software and mechanical engineers to build embedded firmware for the payload.
• Evaluate RTL implementations for control and signal processing routines.
• Integrate RTL designs onto FPGA/SoC platforms with synthesis and timing analysis.
• Lead verification and validation of FPGA design on prototype hardware.
• Assist in recruiting and hiring teammates for the team.

Skills

Embedded firmware

RTL design

Verilog/VHDL

I2C/SPI/UART

Git/CI

FPGA/SoC platforms

Education

BS or MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

Tools

Vivado/Quartus

Synthesis tools

Job description

Kapta Space, a VC-funded early-stage startup in Seattle, WA, is breaking new ground in Geospatial Intelligence. Our technology centers around a proven, scalable electronically-steered radar for sophisticated spaceborne applications such as earth observation using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) techniques, as well as enabling advanced defense missions such as target tracking on the ground and in the air.

Kapta Space is seeking a Senior FPGA Engineer to lead RTL design and FPGA development for radar operation and algorithm implementation. Kapta Space is seeking FPGA Engineers with experience in mission-critical firmware development that have the drive and experience to complete projects independently and on time.

Role

• Assist multi-disciplinary team in creating firmware requirements
• Architect, design, and implement software for our Radar Sensor
• Work collaboratively with radar algorithm, hardware, software and mechanical engineers to build reliable, embedded firmware for the payload
• Evaluate implementation/maintenance, complexity and resource requirements (logic cells, embedded memory, DSP Slices) for control and signal processing routines in RTL. Produce trade-studies to support decision making
• Integrate RTL designs onto FPGA/SoC platforms with synthesis, place and route, and timing analysis
• Lead verification and validation of FPGA design on prototype and fight hardware
• Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly growing team

Required Qualifications

• BS or MS degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in embedded firmware development (ideally for radar applications)
• Experience with bring up and verification of RTL-based designs on targeted HW
• Experience with low-speed interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART, RS422, etc.)
• Comfortable with Git, CI, Code Reviews, and Version Control and organized enough to be productive in a lean startup environment
• Experience in RTL design with Verilog/VHDL for satellite applications
• Ability to read schematic diagrams

Bonus if candidates have experience and skills in the following areas:

• Experience designing and implementing distributed digital systems
• Experience with Clock Domain Crossing and Timing Closure
• Experience with AMD Ultrascale+ platforms
• Experience with interfaces for high-speed ADC/DACs (JESD204)
• Experience implementing signal processing algorithms in RTL
• Experience with embedded designs with multiple FPGAs and peripheral interfaces (SPI, UART, GPIO, I2C, Ethernet)
• Experience implementing efficient, low latency data movement between FPGAs, processors, storage devices, and networking interfaces
• Working knowledge of networking stacks (Ethernet, TCP/IP)
• Ability to gain and hold a TS security clearance

$215,000 - $250,000 a year

The estimated salary range for this role reflects base pay only and is influenced by a variety of factors. Actual offers may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's experience, education or training, specialized expertise, and the needs of the business. In addition to base pay, full-time roles include competitive equity grants that reward innovation, impact, and long-term growth. Our total compensation philosophy is designed to recognize excellence while fostering a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and shared success.

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Kapta Employees must be U.S. citizens, lawful U.S. permanent residents (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or Commerce as applicable.

Kapta Space is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that diversity drives innovation, strengthens our team, and broadens our capabilities. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.