Principal FPGA Design Engineer (Contract)

Job Title: Principal FPGA Design Engineer (Contract)
Location: UK (Hybrid – with occasional on-site requirements)
Salary: TBD
Shift Type: Day Shift, Monday to Friday
Benefits: Long-term programme, high-impact technical role, opportunity to influence system architecture, flexible working where project permits

The Opportunity
We are supporting a high-technology systems manufacturer operating in regulated and mission-critical environments, seeking an experienced Principal FPGA Design Engineer (Contract) to lead complex FPGA developments across multiple programmes.
This is a senior, hands-on technical role focused on translating top-level system requirements into robust FPGA architectures, delivering verified designs to hardware, and providing technical leadership across firmware teams.

Key Responsibilities
Decompose system and product requirements into FPGA architectures and detailed design specifications
Lead FPGA developments from concept through to verified hardware implementation
Design, implement and debug complex VHDL-based FPGA solutions
Develop test benches, vectors and verification strategies
Perform system-level design and documentation to support downstream implementation
Take ownership of multiple work packages, including scope, estimates and delivery tracking
Support firmware releases, configuration control and technical documentation
Provide technical mentoring, design reviews and guidance to other engineers
Act as technical liaison with internal stakeholders, suppliers and customers
Support hardware validation using lab equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, signal generators, etc.)
Required Experience

10+ years’ FPGA design experience in complex, multi-FPGA systems
Strong background in VHDL design and verification
Proven ability to translate high-level system requirements into implementable FPGA solutions
Experience delivering designs to schedule within structured development environments
Background in Radar systems, DSP or closely related high-speed signal processing applications
Comfortable operating at system, firmware and hardware interface level
Excellent technical documentation and communication skills
Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Electronics, Engineering or a closely related discipline
Additional Information

Occasional UK travel may be required, sometimes at short notice
Suitable for contractors seeking long-term, technically challenging programmes with genuine architectural ownership
Pertemps Engineering Division
If you are an experienced FPGA contractor looking for your next senior-level assignment, please apply with your CV or contact the Pertemps Engineering Division on (phone number removed) for a confidential discussion. We specialise in placing high-level engineering contractors into complex manufacturing and engineering environments across the UK