Senior FPGA / Digital Design Engineer

At AV Inc. , we don’t just build technology-we launch it into the future. We are seeking a visionary Senior FPGA / Digital Design Engineer to take the helm of our next generation of high-reliability digital boards and FPGA systems.

If you are a seasoned engineer who thrives at the intersection of complex architecture and mission-critical execution, this is your opportunity to lead high-profile aerospace and defense projects from initial concept to flight-ready reality. You will be instrumental in driving project performance, mentoring engineering talent, and delivering robust, real-time control systems that withstand the most demanding environments.

What You’ll Do (Key Responsibilities)

As a technical anchor on our strategic programs, your expertise will bridge the gap between embedded logic and physical flight hardware. You will:

• Architect & Innovate: Lead the design and implementation of complex, multi-vendor FPGA systems (including AMD/Xilinx, Microchip, and Lattice).

• Design for Extreme Reliability: Develop fault-tolerant, triple-redundant voting logic systems for flight actuator controllers and cutting-edge space-flight applications.

• Master High-Speed Communication: Integrate high-speed data interfaces and robust command/telemetry protocols, including MIL-STD-1553 (RT/BC), Ethernet (100Mbps/1Gbps), SpaceWire, AXI, RS-422, and PCI.

• Simulate & Verify: Ensure absolute precision by conducting comprehensive board- and system-level mixed simulations ($VHDL$ and $Verilog$) to achieve perfect timing closure.

• Lead System Integration: Spearhead hardware-software co-design, board bring-up, and qualification testing to seamlessly merge embedded logic with physical hardware.

• Champion Technical Leadership: Act as the primary technical interface for customers, ensure compliance with strict aerospace standards, and mentor the team to hit major milestones and incentive targets.

We are looking for a collaborative leader who pairs deep technical mastery with a passion for problem-solving.

The Essentials:

• Education: BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field.

• Experience: 10+ years of progressive engineering experience spanning digital board design, FPGA development, and aerospace/defense systems.

• Proven Track Record: A history of successfully delivering high-profile aerospace projects (e.g., satellite control computers, high-performance control systems, or advanced telemetry systems).

Your Required Technical Toolkit:

• Languages & Tools: Expert proficiency in VHDL and Verilog for mixed-language simulation. Mastery of EDA and simulation tools like Aldec Riviera, ModelSim/Questasim, and Vivado/Libero suites.

• FPGA Technologies: Deep, hands-on experience with Microchip/Actel (reprogrammable/antifuse/radiation-tolerant), AMD/Xilinx (e.g., Virtex series), and QuickLogic devices.

• Protocols & Processors: Solid familiarity with MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet controllers, RS-422, and PCI interconnects, alongside experience embedding and configuring microprocessors (such as 6811 IP cores) within flight hardware.

• Lab Expertise: Extensive experience with hardware troubleshooting, bench equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies), and full interface validation.

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty - and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition., We don’t just build defense technology-we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian-but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you’re ready to build technology that matters-with speed, scale, and purpose-there’s no better place to do it than AV.

Careers at AeroVironment (https://www.avinc.com/careers/our-team)