Senior Member of Technical Staff, FPGA & Hardware Development Engineer

Lumotive; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Lumotive is seeking a skilled FPGA and Hardware Development Engineer to lead the hardware development of advanced lidar systems using their innovative Light Control Metasurface technology. The successful candidate will collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver cutting-edge solutions, with a focus on FPGA architecture and embedded processing. This role will allow you to shape the future of programmable optics and contribute to groundbreaking applications across various industries.

Benefits

Health, dental and vision

401K with 3% contribution

PTO plus 14 paid company holidays

Stock Options

Qualifications

• 8+ years of industry experience in FPGA and embedded systems.
• Strong proficiency with Verilog HDL and digital design principles.
• Experience with FPGA-based systems (Lattice, Xilinx).

Responsibilities

• Own FPGA and embedded processor hardware development for LiDAR systems.
• Create and implement FPGA architecture using Verilog HDL.
• Design embedded processor boards and maintain design documentation.

Skills

Digital design principles

Verilog HDL programming

Debugging skills

Problem-solving skills

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Advanced degree preferred (optics, digital signal processing)

Tools

Altium Designer

Job description

Lumotive is pioneering the era of programmable optics—where light is controlled as intelligently and flexibly as software.

At the heart of this transformation is a once-in-a-generation innovation: a flatCMOS-based“general purpose optic.” Lumotive’s Light Control Metasurface (LCM)beam forming chipscan be programmed to function as abeam steering mirror, a lens, mirror, a beam splitter—or any optical function—replacing bulky and mechanical optical components with a fully digital, reconfigurable semiconductor . This breakthrough lays the foundation for a massive shift in multiple technologies—from 3D sensing and imaging to optical networking, free space optical communication, and beyond. Like the shift from analog to digital in electronics, programmable optics will reshape industries from robotics, self-driving cars, AI, defense, and healthcare.

Lumotive’s first commercial application is in LiDAR, where its software-defined beam steering chips are already enabling compact, high-performance, solid-state sensors. These sensors are being deployed today in smart infrastructure, robotics, and mobility systems through leading module makers and solution integrators.

With more than 200 patents and growing commercial traction, Lumotive is delivering the world’s first digital platform for light—and redefining what’s possible in the optical age.

Job Description:

We’re seeking an exceptional FPGA and Hardware Development Engineer to design and deliver the FPGA and embedded processor implementation of our cutting edge lidar systems enabled by Lumotive’s Light Control Metasurface technology. You will collaboratively define system level requirements, develop embedded hardware architecture, and deliver FPGA and embedded compute implementations. You will be responsible for the design, analysis, implementation, and verification of FPGA and embedded processing for Lidar systems. This is a hands-on role ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, hardware-driven environment.

Responsibilities:

• Own all aspects of FPGA and board level embedded processor hardware development to deliver product features, system performance, and quality required for real-time implementation in LiDAR applications.
• Independently create and implement FPGA architecture using Verilog HDL, conduct simulations, develop testbenches, and perform timing analysis to validate FPGA design for functionality and performance.
• Integrate FPGA design with embedded processors and other functional blocks and interfaces in Lidar system, including design and implementation of custom communication interfaces and protocols.
• Design embedded processor boards including component selection, digital design, schematic capture and printed circuit board layout implementation.
• Develop comprehensive hardware test plans, execute verification testing, and debug design for board bring-up, troubleshooting, and performance tuning.
• Maintain comprehensive design documentation and test reports.
• Participate and contribute to system hardware architecture and design reviews as a key stakeholder.
• Work closely with electrical engineers, systems engineers, software engineers, and related cross-functional engineering team members to meet technology, performance, and schedule objectives in delivering product features and performance.
• Develop and maintain FPGA development environment. Work with DevOps team to establish and improve development build, release, and test process automation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related field. Advanced degree preferred with emphasis on optics, digital signal processing or similar.
• Minimum 8 years of industry experience in FPGA and embedded systems.
• Strong understanding of digital design principals and proficiency with Verilog HDL programming, synthesis, and timing closure.
• Experience with FPGA-based systems such as Lattice (preferred), Xilinx, or similar.
• Familiarity with embedded processors and real-time operating systems.
• Experience in developing signal processing algorithms and techniques, including fixed point implementations.
• Experience implementing low-level hardware interfaces (LVDS, MIPI, SPI, I2C, custom).
• Experience with scripting language required (Python preferred). Experience developing C/C++ or Python based libraries for custom hardware preferred.
• Experience with high-speed differential data interfaces and serial peripheral interfaces.
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout design tool, Altium Designer preferred. Experience designing multi-layer high density and complex PCB preferred.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills at both hardware and software levels.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to communicate effectively across functional teams.
• Knowledge of optics and lidar system architecture and implementation desired.
• Experience with lidar systems or optical testing is a strong plus.

$150,000 - $170,000 a year

Base pay is scaled depending on experience + Performance based Quarterly Bonus + Equity.

Benefits include but not limited to:

Health, dental and vision

FSA, HSA

PTO plus 14 paid company holidays

401K with 3% contribution

Stock Options

Life insurance and disability