Staff FPGA Engineer

Oxford, United Kingdom
3 weeks ago
Job Type
Permanent
Work Pattern
Full-time
Work Location
On-site
Seniority
Senior
Education
Degree
Posted
15 May 2026 (3 weeks ago)

Benefits

Part of a world-class community of scientists, engineers, and innovators Shaping the future of quantum computing

Quantum is now, and it's built here.

Oxford Ionics, now part of IonQ, is pioneering the next generation of quantum computing. Using our world-leading trapped-ion technology, we’re building the most powerful, accurate and reliable quantum systems to tackle problems that today’s supercomputers cannot solve.

Joining Oxford Ionics means becoming part of a global IonQ team that is transforming the future of quantum technology - faster, at scale, and with real world impact.

What to expect:

We are looking for a Staff FPGA Engineer to join our FPGA Team at IonQ. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and developing FPGA features, contributing to the team’s mission of delivering best in class control systems.

You’ll play an important part in shaping hardware that supports our work in building the world’s most advanced quantum systems.

What you’ll be responsible for:

In this position, you will work on designing, developing and testing RTL modules, supporting the effective delivery of real-time control logic for quantum control systems.

You’ll have the opportunity to own, architect, and develop critical control functions, contributing directly to the success of operating a quantum computer.

  • Work independently to design and implement FPGA based signal processing and control functions
  • Develop functional block specifications based on system level requirements
  • Perform logic design using Vivado (Verilog or VHDL, IP Catalog, and Block Design)
  • Perform logic simulation/verification using simulation/verification software
  • Simulate signal processing and control algorithms in software
  • Implement and test firmware for high speed waveform generation and digital control loops
  • Write test procedures, perform unit and system level testing and debug, document test results

Requirements

To be successful, you will need strong FPGA design and verification experience and experience working on complex systems. You will have experience in development, verification, and debugging of FPGA-based systems, with a strong focus on signal processing and high-performance embedded solutions. We’re looking for someone who can work cross-functionally to gather requirements, architect, design, and contribute effectively within a fast-moving, highly technical team.

To be successful in this position, you will need a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical field, along with at least 10 years of hands-on FPGA development experience. You should have detailed knowledge of FPGA-based signal processing techniques including DDC/DUC, DDS, and FIR/IIR filters, as well as strong experience in FPGA verification and SystemVerilog development. We’re looking for someone who is fluent in modelling and simulation using Python and/or MATLAB/Simulink, with practical experience in code coverage, functional coverage, and industry-standard verification tools such as Synopsys, Cadence, and ModelSim. Familiarity with Xilinx Ultrascale+ MPSoC devices and common peripheral interfaces including SPI, I2C, UART, and USB is also essential.

You will also be confident using JTAG and Integrated Logic Analyzers for system debugging and proficient with complex laboratory equipment such as signal generators, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analyzers.

You'd be a great fit with:

  • Experience with ASIC design and tapeout process
  • Experience implementing digital control (PID, feedforward, MIMO) algorithms in FPGA firmware
  • Prior experience with high speed interface design and verification including ADC/DAC (DDR and JESD204B), DDR3/4 MIG, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet
  • Working knowledge of embedded linux and linux device drivers
  • Experience using GitLab for automated firmware build and validation
  • Experience working closely with board design and software development teams

Benefits

Be part of a team that’s shaping the future of quantum. We offer more than just a role, you’ll join a world class community of scientists, engineers and innovators working to unlock the full potential of quantum computing.

We offer a range of benefits, including opportunities to further your career alongside industry leaders, a competitive salary with IonQ stock options, an annual performance bonus, generous annual leave, flexible hybrid working, private medical and dental insurance for you and your family, and much more.

Join us and be part of the future of quantum computing.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Related Jobs

View all jobs
Spotlight

Senior Processor Architect

Fractile London, United Kingdom
Spotlight

Semiconductor Test Engineering Team Leader

Fractile Bristol, United Kingdom
On-site

Staff Software Engineer (ML QA)

Graphcore Cambridge, United Kingdom
On-site

Staff Software Engineer (ML QA)

Graphcore Bristol, United Kingdom
On-site

Staff Software Engineer (ML QA)

Graphcore London, United Kingdom
On-site

Senior Staff Digital IC Design Engineer

MicroTech Consulting Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
£65,000 – £95,000 pa On-site

Senior Electronic Design and Firmware Engineer

Systems Engineering & Assessment (SEA) Broomhill, City Of Bristol, Bristol (county), BS4 4SE, United Kingdom
£51,729 – £67,909 pa Hybrid

Staff Foundry Technical Manager

Fractile United Kingdom

Industry Insights

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

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

Where to advertise semiconductor jobs UK in 2026: the specialist boards, academic channels and community routes that actually reach IC, fab and EDA talent. 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.

Semiconductor Jobs UK 2026: What to Expect Over the Next 3 Years

Semiconductor Jobs UK 2026: roles, salaries and the hiring trends shaping UK semiconductor recruitment over the next three years — what to expect now. Semiconductors are the foundational technology of the modern world. Every smartphone, electric vehicle, data centre, medical device, satellite, and AI accelerator depends on them. And yet for much of the past decade, the strategic importance of semiconductor design and manufacturing was something that governments, investors, and employers took largely for granted — until supply chain crises, geopolitical tensions, and the insatiable compute demands of artificial intelligence made the vulnerability of global semiconductor supply chains impossible to ignore. The response has been significant and sustained. The UK's National Semiconductor Strategy, the US CHIPS Act, the EU Chips Act, and parallel investment programmes across Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan have collectively committed hundreds of billions of pounds to semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing capability. In the UK specifically, that investment is beginning to translate into real hiring — across compound semiconductor manufacturing, chip design, semiconductor equipment, advanced packaging, and the growing ecosystem of fabless design companies that are choosing Britain as their base. For job seekers, the semiconductor jobs market of 2026 represents an opportunity that is more commercially urgent, more geographically distributed, and more technically diverse than at any previous point in the sector's UK history. The roles being created span the full semiconductor value chain — from fundamental materials research and process engineering through chip design, verification, and the software that makes silicon useful. The candidates who will thrive over the next three years are those who understand where that value chain is being built, which technical areas are attracting the most investment, and how to position their skills at the intersection of the sector's greatest needs. This article breaks down what the UK semiconductor jobs market is likely to look like through to 2028 — covering the titles emerging right now, the technologies driving employer demand, the skills that will matter most, and how to position your career at the leading edge of one of the most strategically important technology sectors in the UK economy.