Sr. FPGA Engineer

Entangled Future; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

QuEra Computing in Boston, MA is seeking a Senior FPGA Engineer to design and optimize high-performance systems for quantum control. You will work on real-time control, data acquisition, and timing critical circuits essential to our quantum processor.

This role emphasizes SystemVerilog design, verification, and integration across RF, optical, and digital domains. You will collaborate with physicists and software engineers to deliver reliable, scalable FPGA solutions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years FPGA development experience with Xilinx UltraScale+ devices.
• Expert-level System Verilog with modern verification methodologies.
• Experience with high-speed serial protocols (Aurora, AXI4, PCIe, Ethernet).
• Real-time systems design with microsecond timing requirements.
• Digital signal processing implementation in FPGAs.
• Clock domain crossing design and verification.
• Python programming for test automation and data analysis.
• Bachelor's/Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Physics.
• 5+ years FPGA development with complex, real-time systems.
• Experience with quantum computing, RF systems, or precision instrumentation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement System Verilog modules for quantum control systems.
• Scheduled multitone generators for RF/microwave quantum gates.
• Real-time pulse sequencers for laser control.
• High-speed ADC/DAC interfaces (16-bit, 4 samples/clock).
• Develop and maintain Ulti-board FPGA designs (Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC).
• Implement high-speed serial interfaces (CoaXPress, Aurora, AXI4-Stream).
• Design clock domain crossing logic with proper CDC verification.
• Optimize resource utilization and timing closure for complex designs.
• Create comprehensive testbenches using System Verilog and Python (cocotb).
• Develop simulation models for quantum control peripherals.
• Implement formal verification for critical timing constraints.
• Design and validate real-time trigger and synchronization systems.
• Troubleshoot hardware-software integration issues.
• Optimize data throughput for high-bandwidth quantum control signals.
• Implement error detection and recovery mechanisms.
• Design robust clocking architectures for multi-domain systems.
• Develop monitoring and diagnostics for system health.
• Ensure deterministic timing for quantum gate operations.

Skills

FPGA development

SystemVerilog

Python

High-speed serial protocols

Real-time systems

Clock domain crossing

Xilinx UltraScale+

Education

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

Tools

Git

CI/CD

AWS EC2

Linux

Ulti-board FPGA designs (Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC)

Job description

Sr. FPGA Engineer at QuEra Computing, Boston, MA, USA. A senior-level full time position in the QPU Software Engineering team, listed under hardware engineering.

Role Summary

We're seeking a 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 timing systems that are critical to our quantum computer's operation.

Core FPGA Development

• Design and implement System Verilog modules for quantum control systems including:
• Scheduled multitone generators for RF/microwave quantum gates
• Real-time pulse sequencers for laser control
• High-speed ADC/DAC interfaces (16-bit, 4 samples/clock)
• Hardware-accelerated image processing for atom detection
• Develop and maintain Ulti-board FPGA designs (Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC)
• Implement high-speed serial interfaces (CoaXPress, Aurora, AXI4-Stream)
• Design clock domain crossing logic with proper CDC verification
• Optimize resource utilization and timing closure for complex designs

System Integration & Verification

• Create comprehensive testbenches using System Verilog and Python (cocotb)
• Develop simulation models for quantum control peripherals
• Implement formal verification for critical timing constraints
• Design and validate real-time trigger and synchronization systems
• Troubleshoot hardware-software integration issues

Performance & Reliability

• Optimize data through put for high-bandwidth quantum control signals
• Implement error detection and recovery mechanisms
• Design robust clocking architectures for multi-domain systems
• Develop monitoring and diagnostics for system health
• Ensure deterministic timing for quantum gate operations

Technical Stack

• FPGA Tools: Vivado 2022.2+, Vitis, PetaLinux
• Languages: SystemVerilog, Verilog, Python, TCL
• Verification: UVM, cocotb, pytest, formal verification
• Protocols: AXI4, AXI4-Stream, Aurora, CoaXPress, SPI, I2C
• Boards: Xilinx ZCU102/111/216, RFSoC platforms
• Development: Git, CI/CD, AWS EC2, Linux

Requirements

• 5+ years FPGA development experience with Xilinx UltraScale+ devices
• Expert-level System Verilog with modern verification methodologies
• Experience with high-speed serial protocols (Aurora, AXI4, PCIe, Ethernet)
• Real-time systems design with microsecond timing requirements
• Digital signal processing implementation in FPGAs
• Clock domain crossing design and verification
• Python programming for test automation and data analysis
• Bachelor's/master’s in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or Physics
• 5+ years FPGA development with complex, real-time systems
• Experience with quantum computing, RF systems, or precision instrumentation preferred

Nice to Have

• RF/microwave systems experience (frequency synthesis, phase-locked loops)
• High-speed ADC/DAC interfaces (JESD204B/C, RFSoC experience)
• Image processing algorithms (centroid detection, pattern recognition)
• Formal verification using System Verilog assertions
• CoaXPress or camera interface experience
• AWS/cloud development environments
• Familiar with High Level Synthesis and Vivado block design

Benefits

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