Senior Software Engineer

Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc.; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Hitachi Rail STS USA, INC. in Pittsburgh, PA seeks a Senior Software Engineer specializing in FPGA-based hardware design for safety-critical rail signaling systems. You will lead architecture, verification, and integration of complex programmable hardware and mentor junior engineers.

The role emphasizes HDL development, toolchain expertise, and lifecycle support across development, manufacturing, and field validation in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in FPGA, programmable hardware, digital design, or embedded hardware development.
• Proven expertise in FPGA and programmable logic development using VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog.
• Strong experience with development and verification tools such as Intel Quartus, AMD/Xilinx Vivado, ModelSim, Questa, or equivalent environments.
• Strong understanding of digital design fundamentals, state machines, timing analysis, clock domain crossing, synchronization techniques, and hardware architecture principles.
• Experience developing simulation environments, verification frameworks, and testbenches for complex digital systems.
• Experience performing functional, timing, integration, and validation testing for programmable hardware solutions.
• Familiarity with hardware debugging and validation tools including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and laboratory test equipment.
• Experience supporting the complete product lifecycle including requirements analysis, design, verification, manufacturing support, field issue resolution, and sustainment engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design, development, simulation, verification, implementation, and maintenance of complex programmable hardware solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate requirements into hardware designs.
• Develop robust HDL-based solutions following engineering standards and best practices.
• Create and maintain technical documentation including architecture specs and verification plans.
• Develop simulation environments, testbenches, and automated verification frameworks.
• Perform functional, timing, and regression testing to ensure compliance with requirements.
• Lead design reviews and provide critical feedback on quality and maintainability.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive engineering best practices.

Skills

FPGA development

VHDL/Verilog

SystemVerilog

Vivado/Quartus

Digital design

Hardware debugging

Verification practices

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Intel Quartus

Xilinx Vivado

ModelSim/Questa

Job description

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Job ID: R0145658

Date Posted: 2026-09-29

Company Name: HITACHI RAIL STS USA, INC.

Profession (Job Category): IT, Telecom & Internet

Job Schedule: Full time

Remote: No

About Us

A career at Hitachi Rail will help create a legacy. With operations in every corner of the world, our work goes to the cutting-edge of digital transformation and technology. From the multi-cultural strength of our global organisation to the sustainable and innovative ways we work to bring people together, theres something for everyone to get stuck into. And that's where you come in.

Job Description

Hitachi Rail is looking for an enthusiastic self-motivated Senior Software Engineer who thrives in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate is comfortable performing a wide range of tasks from administrative to strategic. This position will be based in Pittsburgh, PA. Hitachi Rail is seeking experienced Senior Software Engineer to design, develop, verify, and implement complex programmable hardware solutions for rail signaling and safety-critical systems. This role involves leading technical initiatives, driving programmable hardware architecture and design decisions, mentoring junior engineers, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, reliable, maintainable, and certifiable FPGA-based products. The position supports the full product lifecycle, including new product development, verification and validation, manufacturing support, field issue resolution, and obsolescence mitigation.

Accountabilities

• Lead the architecture, design, development, simulation, verification, implementation, and maintenance of complex programmable hardware solutions utilizing FPGA, CPLD, and related technologies.
• Collaborate with product managers, architects, systems engineers, software engineers, RAMS, verification, and manufacturing teams to understand requirements and translate them into technical specifications, architectures, and programmable hardware designs.
• Develop robust, efficient, and maintainable programmable hardware solutions using VHDL or Verilog following established engineering standards and best practices.
• Create and maintain high-quality technical documentation including architecture specifications, detailed design descriptions, interface definitions, verification plans, and traceability artifacts.
• Develop simulation environments, testbenches, and automated verification frameworks to validate functionality, performance, timing, and safety requirements.
• Perform functional, timing, integration, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and regression testing to ensure compliance with system and product requirements.
• Conduct design reviews and provide constructive technical feedback to ensure design quality, maintainability, reusability, and compliance with applicable standards.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve complex programmable hardware and system integration issues identified during development, validation, manufacturing, or field operation.
• Support prototype bring-up, board-level integration, laboratory testing, production release, and manufacturing support activities.
• Lead programmable hardware obsolescence mitigation activities, including component replacement analysis, device migration, redesign, impact assessments, and qualification testing.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of development processes, verification methodologies, reusable IP libraries, automation tools, and engineering best practices.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers while fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Ensure compliance with applicable railway, safety, environmental, reliability, and EMC standards throughout the product lifecycle.
• Evaluate emerging programmable hardware technologies, design tools, and verification methodologies for potential application within Hitachi Rail products and platforms.

Required skills/experience

• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in FPGA, programmable hardware, digital design, or embedded hardware development.
• Proven expertise in FPGA and programmable logic development using VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog.
• Strong experience with development and verification tools such as Intel Quartus, AMD/Xilinx Vivado, ModelSim, Questa, or equivalent environments.
• Strong understanding of digital design fundamentals, state machines, timing analysis, clock domain crossing, synchronization techniques, and hardware architecture principles.
• Experience developing simulation environments, verification frameworks, and testbenches for complex digital systems.
• Experience performing functional, timing, integration, and validation testing for programmable hardware solutions.
• Familiarity with hardware debugging and validation tools including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and laboratory test equipment.
• Experience supporting the complete product lifecycle including requirements analysis, design, verification, manufacturing support, field issue resolution, and sustainment engineering.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary engineering environment.

Education

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field #LI-DNI

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)-Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

We welcome and value differences in background, age, gender, sexuality, family status, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and world view. It is our commitment to create an inclusive environment - we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We would be delighted if you would be one of our followers at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachirail Hitachi brings together the world's greatest minds to help breathe life into new possibilities - and drive innovation for a better future. That's why we look for individuals who share our pioneering spirit, have imaginative ideas and are fearless when it comes to tackling the world's biggest challenges. Our people love technology - and they love making a difference. They have a passion for finding new solutions and working with brilliant colleagues. Every day they dedicate themselves to a huge range of exciting projects, contributing to the Hitachi vision around the globe. From engineering new sustainability solutions that conserve water and energy to creating the infrastructure for the smart cities of tomorrow, there's no challenge too great for our pioneers. And there's no shortage of opportunities for you to make a difference. Come and experience the dynamic, collaborative and creative environments where your ideas are welcome and new discoveries are waiting. To help you grow to your full potential, we strive to support our employees in their career aspirations and promote the freedom to explore new horizons.

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