FPGA Design Engineer

Role:  FPGA Design Engineer
Location: Whitstable, Kent
Salary: competitive, we will pay for the right talent genuinely

We are seeking an experienced FPGA Design Engineer to join our highly skilled small team, working in a technically challenging and highly regulated environment.

The successful candidate will lead FPGA firmware design and development projects.

This role is ideal for a proactive individual with at least 5 years of experience, looking to apply their expertise across the full product lifecycle, from concept to verification and qualification.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Capture and trace requirements from customer specifications through to detailed design.
• Architect, implement, and verify FPGA designs using VHDL for high-performance and safety-critical applications.
• Generate and maintain comprehensive design documentation.
• Take ownership of assigned work packages, ensuring timely delivery within budget and technical requirements.
• Work closely with electronics, firmware, and software engineers for system integration.
• Participate in peer reviews and maintain documentation of development activities.

Contribute to new product development and maintain legacy designs as required.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of FPGA and complex digital hardware design experience.
• Proficiency with FPGA toolchains such as Xilinx Vivado, ModelSim, or Questa.
• Strong understanding of digital timing, finite state machines, and clock domain crossing.
• Proficient in VHDL and C/C++, with experience developing self-checking testbenches.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; proactive in learning and applying new technologies.
• Knowledge of video standards (e.g., HDMI/DVI) and communication protocols (e.g., UART, SPI, I2C).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively in a small team.
• Good organizational and planning skills.

Desirable:

• Experience working with safety-critical standards such as DO-178, DO-254, or BS EN 61508.
• Familiarity with high-speed interfaces and protocols (e.g., AXI, DDR, HDMI, PCIe, USB, Ethernet).
• Scripting skills in TCL or Python for build automation or verification support.
• Exposure to model-based design workflows (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink integration).