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)