> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2027532-early-career-ai-engineer-embedded-fpga](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2027532-early-career-ai-engineer-embedded-fpga). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Early Career AI Engineer - Embedded & FPGA... - **Company:** Sandia Corporation - **Location:** Albuquerque, NM, United States (Remote available) - **Salary:** $102,400.0 - $199,700.0 - **Contract:** Temporary contract - **Skills:** C (Programming Language), Artificial Intelligence, Systems Engineering, Unit Testing, C++ (Programming Language), Program Optimization, Code Review, Continuous Integration, Software Debugging, Decision Support Systems, Embedded Software, Firmware, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Hardware Description Language, Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulation, Python (Programming Language), MATLAB, Machine Learning, Software Architecture, Rapid Prototyping Process, Tensorflow, Signal Processing, Software Engineering, System on a Chip, System Programming, SystemVerilog, Systems Integration, Verilog, VHSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL), Software Organization, Rust (Programming Language), Vivado, PIC Microcontroller, Real Time Systems, Pytorch, Fpga Hardware, Low Latency, ONNX (Open Neural Network Exchange) Format, Hardware Acceleration, Software Version Control - **Published:** August 11, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.juju.com/job/00000000gmo5cb ## About the Role + A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development. + Ability to acquire and maintain a DOE Q clearance and SCI clearance, which may require a polygraph., + Graduate degree in a relevant computationally-intensive discipline where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation). + Experience in developing software and AI systems for enterprise and national security applications. + Demonstrated software development skills and familiarity with modern software development practices. + Proven ability to work and communicate effectively in a collaborative and interdisciplinary team environment. Also for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience: + Experience developing software in one or more relevant languages, such as C, C++, Python, Rust, MATLAB, or similar languages used for embedded, scientific, or systems programming. + Familiarity with embedded software development, real-time systems, microcontrollers, system-on-chip platforms, digital signal processors, or other resource-constrained computing environments. + Exposure to FPGA development, hardware description languages, or high-level synthesis tools, such as VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog, HLS, Vivado, Quartus, or related toolchains. + Interest in deploying AI, machine learning, signal processing, or autonomy algorithms to edge, embedded, FPGA, or electronics platforms. + Familiarity with AI/ML frameworks, model optimization techniques, or edge-AI deployment concepts, such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, ONNX, quantization, pruning, latency optimization, or hardware acceleration. + Experience using modern software engineering practices, including version control, unit testing, code reviews, continuous integration, debugging, documentation, and requirements-based development. + Interest in using agentic coding, AI-assisted software development, or large language model tools to improve software productivity, quality, and maintainability. + Ability to work across hardware/software boundaries, including integrating software with electronics, sensors, communication interfaces, data acquisition systems, or laboratory test equipment. + Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to learn new technologies, development environments, and mission applications quickly. + Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams that may include software engineers, firmware developers, electrical engineers, systems engineers, researchers, and mission customers. + Good written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document designs, explain technical tradeoffs, and present results to technical and non-technical audiences. + Interest in developing high-reliability, high-TRL software for real-time autonomy, decision support, intelligent control, signal processing, or mission-critical embedded applications. ## Description We are seeking a motivated AI engineer to join Department 5328, Smart Electronics Software, in advancing the way high-TRL software is developed and deployed on mission-relevant electronics platforms. In this role, you will help pioneer the use of agentic coding workflows to accelerate the implementation, verification, and sustainment of robust software for embedded processors, real-time systems, and FPGA-based architectures. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team focused on bringing artificial intelligence and autonomy closer to the edge. This includes deploying AI algorithms onto constrained electronics platforms to enable real-time autonomy, decision support, signal processing, and intelligent control in operational environments. The work will span concept development, rapid prototyping, hardware/software integration, testing, and transition to high-reliability applications. This position is ideal if you enjoy working at the intersection of modern software engineering, embedded systems, FPGA development, artificial intelligence, and national security applications. You will have the opportunity to shape how next-generation intelligent systems are developed and deployed on advanced electronics platforms. On any given day, you may be called on to: + Develop, test, and integrate high-TRL software for embedded, electronics, and FPGA platforms. + Apply agentic coding tools and AI-assisted development methods to improve software productivity, quality, and maintainability. + Implement AI, machine learning, and autonomy algorithms for real-time execution on resource-constrained hardware. + Collaborate with electronics, firmware, software, systems, and mission-domain experts to develop integrated solutions. + Optimize algorithms and software for performance, latency, power, memory, and reliability constraints. + Support hardware-in-the-loop testing, embedded platform bring-up, verification, validation, and fieldable prototype demonstrations. + Contribute to software architectures, development workflows, and best practices for trusted AI-enabled embedded systems., Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance and SCI access, both of which require US citizenship. SCI access may also require a polygraph examination. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain these levels of access may be impacted. Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by the DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. ## Related Videos - [Hiring AI Native Talents](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100268-hiring-ai-native-talents) - [Leveraging Large Language Models for Legacy Code Translation: Challenges and Solutions](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1157-leveraging-large-language-models-for-legacy-code-translation-challenges-and-solutions) - [Developing an AI.SDK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/198-developing-an-ai-sdk) - [Building a hypercar from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/607-building-a-hypercar-from-scratch) - [Software stack under and over the hood of the fastest accelerating car in the world](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/221-software-stack-under-and-over-the-hood-of-the-fastest-accelerating-car-in-the-world) - [The New Org Chart: When AI Joins the Workforce](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100036-the-new-org-chart-when-ai-joins-the-workforce) ## Related Articles - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [MLOps And AI Driven Development](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/82-mlops-and-ai-driven-development) - [How software is steering vehicle technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/515-how-software-is-steering-vehicle-technology) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [Dev Digest 166: Sycophancy, Zip bombs and AI Native Development](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/585-dev-digest-166-sycophancy-zip-bombs-and-ai-native-development) - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift)