Senior FPGA Engineer Los Angeles, CA

K2 Space Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Equity in the company

Job summary

A leading aerospace company is hiring an FPGA Firmware Developer in Los Angeles, CA. The role involves development and verification of FPGA firmware for large spacecraft, focusing on critical systems. Candidates should have experience with FPGA designs using VHDL or SystemVerilog, and a relevant degree or experience in software development. This position offers a competitive salary at $120,000 – $225,000 plus equity, and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 3+ years in software development.
• 3+ years working with complex FPGA designs.

Responsibilities

• Own architecture and implementation of programmable logic systems.
• Implement architectures in RTL with VHDL and SystemVerilog.
• Verify and validate FPGA designs.
• Support integration and troubleshooting for FPGA designs.
• Develop tools for rapid, high-reliability FPGA solutions.

Skills

VHDL

SystemVerilog

Embedded software

Rust

C++

Firmware development

Python

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, math, or a STEM discipline

Job description

Overview

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors and an additional $500M in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers, we are mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms for missions from LEO to deep space.

The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry to mass abundance. K2 satellites are engineered to survive harsh radiation environments and to capitalize on today’s and tomorrow’s rockets, delivering unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits. With multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027, we are Building Bigger to explore the solar system and pursue a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and excited about contributing to a groundbreaking Series C space startup, we’d love for you to apply.

The Role

The software team at K2 strives to blur the lines between the various types of software development and encourages team members to engage with parts of the stack they may not otherwise have experience with. This spectrum includes HDL programming (VHDL, SystemVerilog), embedded software on microcontrollers (Rust, C++), operating systems (Rust, C++, C), application software on flight computers (Rust, C++), GNC algorithms (Rust, C++), testing (Python), and related areas. For now, this does not include front-end, artificial intelligence, or machine learning development.

As a part of the team, you will be responsible for the development and verification of FPGA firmware used to fly some of the largest spacecraft that have ever been flown. You will write mission-critical code that controls propulsion, attitude control, RF, and power systems to ensure safe and reliable operation of the vehicle. In your first 6 months you will help develop core FPGA architecture pieces such as fault tolerance strategies, real-time control, high-speed data routing, and telemetry downlink. In your first year you will implement larger and more complex FPGA systems and begin verifying code using both software and hardware-in-the-loop simulators. In your first two years you will operate your code on multiple spacecraft, demonstrating robust performance in demanding missions.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture and implementation of critical programmable logic systems across the spacecraft that support vehicle networking, RF systems, and real-time control of all spacecraft subsystems
• Implement these architectures in RTL using VHDL and SystemVerilog
• Verify and validate FPGA designs using a mix of simulation, bench-testing, and Hardware In The Loop testbeds
• Support integration, test, and troubleshooting efforts for FPGA designs across all levels of the spacecraft development and manufacturing
• Develop the tools and infrastructure to support rapid, high-reliability FPGA solutions across all subsystems

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, math, or a STEM discipline or 3+ years of professional experience in software development
• 3+ years working with complex FPGA designs spanning digital, mixed signal, or RF applications
• Development experience with VHDL or SystemVerilog

Nice to Have

• Experience integrating logic onto Xilinx SoC platforms
• Experience with digital signal processing (DSP) fundamentals and implementing complex DSP logic and software defined radios on FPGAs
• Experience implementing high-speed SERDES interfaces such as Ethernet, PCIe, and JESD204C
• Experience with standard bus and streaming protocols such as AXI and AXI-Stream
• Experience with evaluating and integrating vendor/third party IP
• Experience with common scripting languages such as Python, TCL, and Bash
• Experience with Linux systems programming and driver development
• Experience with continuous integration and continuous delivery systems
• Experience building or working with hard real-time embedded systems (bare-metal or RTOS)
• Basic knowledge of electronics, computer architecture, and control systems
• Experience with software verification and testing methods
• Experience with software and network performance analysis and debugging

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range for this role is $120,000 – $225,000 + equity in the company
• Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
• Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

Equal Opportunity and Compliance

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Export controls: the role may involve access to ITAR-controlled information; U.S. Persons and export license eligibility are defined by applicable regulations.