What are the key skills for an FPGA Engineer?

Key skills include proficiency in HDLs (VHDL, Verilog), strong problem-solving abilities, and a deep understanding of digital logic and computer architecture.

What industries hire FPGA Engineers?

FPGA Engineers are in demand in industries such as telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, defence, and consumer electronics.

What is the typical career progression for an FPGA Engineer?

The typical career progression starts as a Junior FPGA Engineer, advances to FPGA Engineer, then Senior FPGA Engineer, and finally Principal FPGA Engineer.

What are the common tools used by FPGA Engineers?

Common tools include FPGA development software like Xilinx Vivado and Altera Quartus, as well as simulation tools like ModelSim and Cadence.

What is the salary range for FPGA Engineers?

For specific salary information, please refer to the salary section on this page, which is updated with the latest data from live job listings.

FPGA Engineer Jobs

Engineers who design and optimise the logic and functionality of FPGAs. A critical role in the semiconductor industry, bridging hardware and software.

Open roles

Salary range

£30k – £150k

Hiring companies

View 42 live roles → Get an alert

FPGA Engineers play a vital role in the semiconductor industry, focusing on the design, development, and optimisation of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). These devices are essential for a wide range of applications, from telecommunications and automotive systems to aerospace and defence. FPGA Engineers work closely with hardware and software teams to create custom logic solutions that meet specific performance and efficiency requirements. They are often found in research-heavy startups, scaleups, and larger consultancies, where their expertise is crucial for developing cutting-edge technology.

What the role does

Inside the role of an FPGA Engineer

A typical week for an FPGA Engineer is a mix of design, simulation, and testing, with a strong focus on collaboration with cross-functional teams.

01

Design and implement logic circuits using HDLs (VHDL, Verilog).
02

Simulate and verify FPGA designs to ensure they meet specifications.
03

Collaborate with hardware and software teams to integrate FPGA solutions.
04

Optimise designs for performance, power consumption, and resource utilisation.
05

Document design processes and test results for future reference.
06

Participate in code reviews and design reviews with peers.

Salary on the board

£30k – £150k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 61 priced listings posted in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

By seniority

£k base

Junior

1 job

Mid

19 jobs

Senior

150

29 jobs

Lead

130

3 jobs

Skills & tools

What hiring managers ask for

% of 51 listings posted in the last 12 months that mention each skill, extracted from job descriptions.

VHDL

90%

FPGA

84%

SystemVerilog

51%

Verilog

41%

Simulink

29%

MATLAB

29%

Vivado

29%

RFSoC

27%

DSP

24%

Xilinx

22%

Quartus

20%

C/C++

20%

Career ladder

From Junior to Principal

A typical UK progression for fpga engineers. Years are guidance — strong people move faster, and many senior folks sidestep into research, product or management.

Level 1

Junior FPGA Engineer

0–2 yrs

Assists in the design and testing of FPGA circuits, working under the guidance of more experienced engineers.
Level 2

FPGA Engineer

2–5 yrs

Takes ownership of FPGA design projects, from initial concept to final testing, and collaborates with cross-functional teams.
Level 3

Senior FPGA Engineer

5–10 yrs

Leads complex FPGA design projects, mentors junior engineers, and contributes to the overall architecture of systems.
Level 4

Principal FPGA Engineer

10+ yrs

Drives innovation in FPGA design, influences company strategy, and acts as a technical authority in the field.

Pathway

How to become a FPGA Engineer

There's no single route, but most people follow some version of these steps.

1

Learn HDLs

Start by mastering Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) like VHDL and Verilog, which are essential for FPGA design.
2

Gain Practical Experience

Work on real-world projects to gain hands-on experience in FPGA design, simulation, and testing.
3

Specialise in a Domain

Choose a specific domain, such as digital signal processing or embedded systems, to deepen your expertise.
4

Lead Projects

Take on leadership roles in FPGA design projects, managing teams and ensuring project success.
5

Influence Strategy

Contribute to the strategic direction of your organisation by providing technical insights and innovation.
6

Mentor and Teach

Share your knowledge and experience by mentoring junior engineers and contributing to the professional community.

Live jobs

42 live roles

See all 42 roles →

FPGA Engineer

This role involves designing, developing, and verifying FPGA firmware for complex, safety-critical systems. You will work within a multidisciplinary team, lead design reviews, and contribute to technical strategy, with a focus on high-reliability solutions and best practices in firmware engineering.

Matchtech Hastings, East Sussex, United Kingdom £70,000 – £75,000 pa

Hybrid Permanent

FPGA Engineer

This role involves developing high-performance firmware for critical surveillance radar systems, including Osprey and Seaspray. You will work on requirement capture, architecture definition, design, integration, and qualification of next-generation surveillance radars, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and mentoring junior engineers.

Matchtech Edinburgh, Alba / Scotland, United Kingdom £90 – £100 ph

Hybrid Contract Clearance Required

FPGA Engineer

As an FPGA Engineer, you will play a key role in shaping product development by providing input into specifications and taking ownership of FPGA design tasks for new product developments. The role focuses on high-speed data throughput and low-latency routing, working on end-to-end data flow and major platform evolutions.

Enterprise Recruitment Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom £60,000 – £75,000 pa

On-site Permanent

FPGA Engineer

A company with ambitious growth plans, set to double revenue, is looking for an FPGA Engineer to join its team. With a strong, supportive culture, employees stay long term and thrive in a collaborative environment. As a small but growing...

Enterprise Recruitment Berkshire, United Kingdom £60,000 – £80,000 pa

On-site Permanent

FPGA Engineer

FPGA Engineer – Permanent – Full Time (Mostly Onsite)Salary: £42,000 - £52,000 DOELocation: Lincoln - Read on if you’re not localBenefits include: Relocation support is available.• 25 days annual leave (inclusive of December shutdown) • Buy or sell up to...

MASS North Hykeham, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom £42,500 – £52,500 pa

FPGA Engineer

This role involves working on complex wireless communications and advanced electronic systems projects, from requirements capture to implementation. Responsibilities include FPGA, DSP, SDR, RF, and embedded systems development, as well as signal processing and communication waveform design.

Platform Recruitment Marchwood, Hampshire, SO40 4YW, United Kingdom £85,000 – £95,000 pa

On-site Permanent Clearance Required

FPGA Engineer

This role involves designing and optimizing FPGA-based implementations of advanced wireless communication algorithms for a next-generation software-defined radio (SDR) modem. The engineer will work on translating floating-point DSP algorithms into high-performance fixed-point FPGA designs, focusing on real-time processing, parallelization, and system integration. Collaboration with PHY, RF, and software teams is key to developing deployable, field-ready communication systems with societal impact.

Mars Recruitment Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom £80,000 – £90,000 pa

Hybrid Permanent

FPGA Engineer

As an FPGA Engineer, you will work on the development of next-generation digital products, focusing on complex, high-speed systems. Your responsibilities will include contributing to product specifications, implementing and verifying FPGA designs, and collaborating with hardware, software, and systems engineers to ensure product quality and customer support.

Anonymous Slough, Berkshire, United Kingdom £45,000 – £70,000 pa

Hybrid Permanent

See all 42 roles →

Top hirers

Companies hiring fpga engineers

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Hiring locations

Where this role is hiring

The locations with the most live listings for this role today.

FAQs

Common questions

Key skills include proficiency in HDLs (VHDL, Verilog), strong problem-solving abilities, and a deep understanding of digital logic and computer architecture.
FPGA Engineers are in demand in industries such as telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, defence, and consumer electronics.
The typical career progression starts as a Junior FPGA Engineer, advances to FPGA Engineer, then Senior FPGA Engineer, and finally Principal FPGA Engineer.
Common tools include FPGA development software like Xilinx Vivado and Altera Quartus, as well as simulation tools like ModelSim and Cadence.
For specific salary information, please refer to the salary section on this page, which is updated with the latest data from live job listings.

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FPGA Engineer Jobs

Inside the role of an FPGA Engineer

£30k – £150k

What hiring managers ask for

From Junior to Principal

Junior FPGA Engineer

FPGA Engineer

Senior FPGA Engineer

Principal FPGA Engineer

How to become a FPGA Engineer

Learn HDLs

Gain Practical Experience

Specialise in a Domain

Lead Projects

Influence Strategy

Mentor and Teach

42 live roles

FPGA Engineer

FPGA Engineer

FPGA Engineer

FPGA Engineer

FPGA Engineer

FPGA Engineer

FPGA Engineer

FPGA Engineer

Companies hiring fpga engineers

Where this role is hiring

Cambridge

Southampton

London

Edinburgh

Oxford

Common questions

Hiring fpga engineers?