FPGA Engineer

AV is seeking skilled and adaptable FPGA engineers to work as members of a multi-disciplinary team supporting m multiple technology areas. Our Space Tech division develops high-performance electromechanical, electro-optical, control, and communication systems. These solutions include digital signal processing algorithms deployed using System on Chip (SoC) or Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) in combination with General Purpose Processors (GPPs) and microcontrollers.

Position Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain general-purpose and mission specific RTL/Firmware

• Develop and maintain firm ware for peripheral interfaces

• Analog to Digital Converters

• Digital to Analog Converters

• Serial links and communication interfaces (SpaceWire, SPI, CameraLink, 1Gb+ Ethernet, MIL-1553B)

• Develop and maintain automated FPGA firmware platform build scripts

• Deploy firmware to physical devices

• Architect and develop firmware for space electronics, including FPGAs, microcontrollers, and RTOS-based systems.

• Optimize embedded software for radiation-hardened and high-reliability environments.

• Conduct system integration, testing, and validation of firmware in simulated and real-world aerospace conditions.

• Support compliance with space industry standards (NASA, ESA, MIL-STD).

• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science.

• 2 years of professional experience designing using hardware description languages (VHDL or Verilog)

• Ability to obtain and maintain a US security clearance.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Some experience using Xilinx devices (Zynq, Virtex / Kintex) and toolchains (Vivado / ISE) and/or Microchip devices (RTAX / ProASIC / RTG4) and toolchains (Libero).

• Some experience doing firmware development in embedded systems, preferably for aerospace or space applications.

• Knowledge of (serial) communication protocols and standards.

• Familiarity with multiple clock-domain digital design techniques.

• Familiarity with in-system debuggers and logic analyzers.

• Familiarity with designing and managing FPGA physical constraints.

• Familiarity with Tool Command Language (TCL).

• Proven, demonstrated experience taking VHDL or Verilog designs to a hardware environment.

• Familiarity with the Xilinx SoC devices.

• Familiarity with FPGA floor planning techniques.

• Familiarity with Xilinx System Generator.

• Familiarity with other computing languages (C/C++, Python, Java).

• Familiarity with verification techniques, including linting and constrained random testing.

• Knowledge of RTOS, bare-metal firmware, and hardware-software co-design.

• Experience working with hardware accelerators and space communication protocols.

• Familiarity with other synthesis and simulation environments (Synopsys, Aldec).

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office and onsite environment (Frequent)

• Ability to support field testing and integration assignments. (Infrequently)

• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

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., 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)