Sr. FPGA Engineer

QuEra Computing, Inc.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Job summary

QuEra Computing, Inc. seeks a Senior FPGA Engineer to design, implement, and optimize high-performance FPGA systems for real-time quantum control. You will work on quantum gate timing, high-speed data paths, and scalable control architectures in a fast-paced hardware team.

Responsibilities include developing SystemVerilog modules, RF gating waveforms, ADC/DAC interfaces, and hardware-accelerated image processing, with emphasis on timing precision and reliability for quantum experiments.

Qualifications

• 5+ years FPGA development experience with complex, real-time systems.
• Expert-level SystemVerilog with modern verification methodologies.
• Experience with high-speed serial protocols (Aurora, AXI4, PCIe, Ethernet).
• Real-time systems design with microsecond timing requirements.
• Clock domain crossing design and verification.
• Python programming for test automation and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement SystemVerilog modules for quantum control systems.
• Develop multitone RF generators for quantum gates and high-speed ADC/DAC interfaces.
• Implement hardware-accelerated image processing for atom detection.
• Maintain Ulti-board FPGA designs (Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC).
• Implement high-speed serial interfaces (CoaXPress, Aurora, AXI4-Stream).
• Ensure timing closure and CDC verification across multi-domain systems.

Skills

SystemVerilog

FPGA development

Real-time systems

Python

Clock domain crossing

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical/Computer Engineering or Physics

Tools

Vivado

RFSoC platforms

UVM

co-simulation (cocotb)

Job description

SeniorFPGA Engineer-Quantum Computing Control Systems

Company Overview

Join QuEraComputing'sengineering team to develop cutting-edge FPGA systems for neutral atom quantum computers. You'll workon real-time control systems that manipulate individual atoms with microsecond precision, enabling breakthrough quantumalgorithmsand applications.

Role Summary

We're seekinga Senior FPGA Engineer to design, implement, and optimize high-performance FPGA systems for quantum computing applications. You'll work on complex real-time control systems, high-speed data acquisition, and precision timingsystems that are criticalto our quantumcomputer'soperation.

Key Responsibilities

Core FPGA Development

• Design and implementSystem Verilogmodules for quantumcontrolsystems including:
• Scheduled multitonegenerators for RF/microwave quantum gates
• High-speed ADC/DAC interfaces (16-bit,4 samples/clock)
• Hardware-acceleratedimageprocessing for atomdetection
• Develop and maintain Ulti-board FPGA designs(Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC)
• Implement high-speed serialinterfaces (CoaXPress, Aurora, AXI4-Stream)
• Design clock domain crossing logic with proper CDC verification
• Optimizeresource utilization and timing closure for complex designs
• Implement formal verification for criticaltiming constraints
• Designandvalidate real-timetriggerand synchronization systems
• Troubleshoot hardware-software integration issues

Performance& Reliability

• Optimize data through put for high-bandwidth quantum control signals
• Designrobustclocking architectures formulti-domain systems
• Develop monitoring and diagnostics for system health
• Ensure deterministic timing for quantum gate operations

Technical Requirements

• 5+ years FPGA developmentexperience with Xilinx UltraScale+ devices
• Expert-level System Verilog with modern verificationmethodologies
• Experience withhigh-speed serial protocols (Aurora, AXI4, PCIe, Ethernet)
• Real-time systems design with microsecond timingrequirements
• Clock domain crossing design and verification
• Python programming for test automation and data analysis

PreferredQualifications

• RF/microwave systems experience (frequency synthesis, phase-locked loops)
• High-speedADC/DAC interfaces (JESD204B/C, RFSoC experience)
• Image processing algorithms (centroid detection, pattern recognition)
• CoaXPress or camera interface experience
• Familiar with High Level Synthesis and Vivado block design

TechnicalStack

• Verification: UVM,cocotb, pytest,formal verification
• Protocols: AXI4, AXI4-Stream, Aurora,CoaXPress,SPI, I2C
• Boards: Xilinx ZCU102/111/216, RFSoC platforms

Project Examples

You'll workon systems like:

• Quantum Gate Control: 8-channel RF tone generators with 0.1 Hz frequencyresolution
• Precision Timing: Synchronized control sequences with <1 μs jitter
• Data Acquisition: High-speed captureof quantum measurementresults

WhatWeOffer

• Cutting-edge technology: Work on the forefront of quantum computing
• High-impact projects: Yourcode directly enables quantumalgorithms
• Technical growth: Learn quantum physics while advancing FPGA skills
• Collaborative environment: Work with physicists, softwareengineers, and system architects

Success Metrics

• Design Quality: Clean, well-documented,and maintainable SystemVerilog code
• Performance: Meeting timing requirementsfor real-time quantum control
• Reliability: Robust errorhandling and system monitoring
• Innovation: Proposingand implementing improvements to quantum control systems
• Collaboration: Effective communication with cross-functional teams

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's/master’s in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or Physics
• 5+ years FPGA development with complex, real-time systems
• Experience withquantum computing, RF systems, or precision instrumentation preferred
• Strongproblem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills for technicaldocumentation and team collaboration

Why This Role Matters

Quantum computers represent the next frontier in computing, with potential to revolutionize cryptography, optimization, and scientific simulation. As an FPGA engineer on our team, you'll build the hardware foundation that makes quantum algorithms possible - controlling individual atoms with unprecedented precision to create the quantum states that power breakthrough applications. Your work will directly impact our ability to scale quantum computers and bring quantum advantage to real-world problems. This is an opportunity to shape the future of computing while advancing your technical expertise in cutting-edge FPGA development.

This role offers the uniqueopportunity to combine advanced FPGA engineering with quantum physics, workingon systems thatoperate at the fundamental limits ofprecision and timing. If you're passionate about both hardware engineering and quantum computing, this is the perfect role to advance both your technical skills and career.

We consistently monitor external market data and update base salary ranges accordingly. We determine base compensation decisions on several factors, including as geographic placement, role-specific knowledge, skills, and/or experience. In addition to our base salary offerings, we also provide equity grants for all new hires.

QuEra is committed to cultivating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We highly value diversity in our current and future employees and do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in QuEra Computing, Inc.’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military,