FPGA Engineering Manager

MBDA
Filton, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
2 weeks ago
Posted
3 Apr 2026 (2 weeks ago)

Bristol

Are you an experiencedFPGA Engineering Manager, an inspirational Leader passionate about people who enjoys contributing to developing and enhancing future capabilities? Look no further! Join our ambitious FPGA Engineering Team at MBDA and be part of a company that is at the forefront of innovation and play a major role in shaping its future.

Salary: Negotiable

Locations: Stevenage or Bristol (we may be able to offer a relocation package for this role)

Dynamic (hybrid) working: 3-4 days per week on-site. We are also open to compressed hours in this role.

Security Clearance: British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship.

Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we can offer you:

Company bonus: Up to 21% (based on company performance and will vary year to year)

Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%

Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements

Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave -enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments

Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more

Healthcare Cash Plan: The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more . The Opportunity:

Our Electronic Engineering Function is rapidly growing!

We are seeking an exceptional FPGA Engineering Manager to lead a high-performing team in developing cutting-edge FPGA-based solutions. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in FPGA design and architecture with outstanding leadership, mentorship, and organizational skills. This role requires someone who can drive technical excellence, scale team capabilities, and deliver world-class products on schedule.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Management

Lead, mentor, and grow a team of FPGA and digital design engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and accountability.

Drive team performance through clear goal setting, technical guidance, and continuous feedback.

Collaborate closely with systems, software, hardware, and verification teams to define requirements and deliver integrated solutions.

Recruit and develop top engineering talent, balancing technical depth with organizational scalability.

Champion best practices in design methodology, verification, and documentation.Technical Ownership

Oversee and contribute to the architecture, design, and implementation of FPGA solutions for high-performance, low-latency, or high-throughput systems.

Provide technical direction for RTL design (VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog), simulation, timing closure, and hardware validation.

Define and enforce design standards, IP reuse strategies, and verification methodologies.

Ensure design meets performance, power, area, and reliability targets.

Work closely with system architects on partitioning between FPGA, ASIC, and software.

Stay abreast of FPGA technology roadmaps (Xilinx, Intel/Altera, Lattice, etc.) and advise on strategic direction.Project Delivery

Own FPGA project execution-from concept to production release.

Drive planning, estimation, and scheduling of FPGA deliverables.

Track progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies.

Collaborate with program management and stakeholders to ensure timely and high-quality delivery.What we're looking for from you:

BS/MS/PhD in Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.

10+ years of FPGA or digital hardware design experience, with at least 3-5 years in a technical leadership or management role.

Proven track record delivering complex FPGA systems from concept to production.

Strong experience with RTL design, simulation, synthesis, timing analysis

Deep understanding of high-speed interfaces, digital signal processing (DSP), control logic design and Image Processing.

Strong grasp of hardware-software co-design and embedded system integration.

Excellent knowledge of FPGA toolchains

Solid understanding of verification methodologies and familiarity with test automation

Strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.

Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, foster innovation, and drive cross-functional collaboration.

Experience in data centre, telecommunications, aerospace/defense, or high-performance computing domains.

Exposure to hardware security, functional safety, or DO-254 compliant design.

Knowledge of scripting and automation.

Strong background in system architecture and performance optimization.Personal Attributes:

Strategic thinker with hands-on technical depth.

Inspires confidence and credibility among engineers and executives alike.

Strong problem-solver who thrives in fast-paced, high-ambiguity environments.

Passionate about mentoring, learning, and continuous improvement.

Balances innovation with disciplined execution.Please note:Some of our roles require an elevated level of security clearance. Candidates may be required to undertake DV (Developed Vetting) in order to successfully deliver the role.

Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given

MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.

We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more...

We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), X (@MBDA_UK), Instagram (MBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.

#LI-SD1

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Electronics Engineer

ARM Ampthill, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom

Embedded Systems Engineer

grw talent Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6GS, United Kingdom

Electronics Design Engineer

Belcan Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Senior Electronics Design Engineer

Redline Group Runnymede, Surrey, United Kingdom
£65,000 – £75,000 pa

FPGA Engineer

Gold Group Filton, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
£60 – £80 ph

FPGA & DSP Engineer

TEC Partners Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
£65,000 – £85,000 pa

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Where to Advertise Semiconductor Jobs in the UK (2026 Guide)

Advertising semiconductor jobs in the UK requires a fundamentally different approach to most technical hiring. The candidate pool is one of the smallest and most specialised in any engineering discipline — spanning IC design engineers, process engineers, fab technicians, EDA tool developers, compound semiconductor physicists and power electronics specialists. General job boards are largely ineffective for semiconductor hiring. The community is tight-knit, highly academic in its roots and concentrated around a small number of university groups, fab facilities and design centres. Specialist boards, academic channels and direct community engagement are the primary sourcing strategies that work. This guide, published by SemiconductorJobs.co.uk, covers where to advertise semiconductor roles in the UK in 2026, how the main platforms compare, what employers should expect to pay, and what the data says about hiring across different role types.

New Semiconductor Employers to Watch in 2026: UK and International Companies Transforming Chip Careers

The semiconductor industry is entering a new era of investment, geopolitical significance, and technological innovation. As advanced chips power everything from artificial intelligence and edge computing to autonomous vehicles and 5G infrastructure, demand for skilled professionals across design, verification, fabrication, and test engineering continues to rise. For professionals exploring opportunities on www.SemiconductorJobs.co.uk , understanding which employers are scaling, raising funds, winning contracts, or establishing UK operations is critical. This article highlights the new semiconductor employers to watch in 2026, including UK innovators, major international players expanding locally, and emerging firms driving next‑generation semiconductor technologies.

How Many Semiconductor Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a Semiconductor Job?

If you’re pursuing a career in the semiconductor industry, it can feel like you’re expected to master an endless list of tools, software packages and lab equipment before you even submit a CV. One job advert wants experience with TCAD and process simulation, another mentions SPICE and yield tools, while yet another asks for test automation platforms, yield analysis software, hardware description languages, EDA suites and hundreds of others. With so many technical names thrown around, it’s easy to fall into “tool anxiety” — the feeling that you’re behind because you don’t know every piece of software, every lab instrument and every process control suite. Here’s the honest truth most semiconductor hiring managers won’t say out loud: 👉 They don’t hire you because you know every tool — they hire you because you can use the right tools to solve real engineering problems and explain your reasoning clearly. Tools matter, absolutely. But they exist to help you deliver measurable results — not to be collected like badges. So how many semiconductor tools do you actually need to know to get a job? The answer is a lot fewer than you might think — and far more focused on core capabilities than a long checklist. This guide breaks down what employers really value, which tools are essential, which are role-specific, and how to focus your learning so you are confident and credible.