FPGA Design Engineer

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

Whether a specific satellite for a specific mission or a constellation of interconnected spacecraft, the GA-EMS Space Systems team is re-defining how customers can access the possibilities of space. GA-EMS offers modular and scalable satellite platforms backed with a history of operational flight experience to support defense, civil, commercial, and academic mission requirements.

General Atomics is seeking a highly experienced and motivated FPGA Design Engineer to join our team. The successful candidate will play a key role in designing, developing, and testing complex FPGA-based systems for advanced technology applications, including satellite systems, high-energy sensors, and other innovative technologies within GA’s expanding portfolio.

The successful candidate will report to the Electrical Design Team Manager and collaborate with a team of expert engineers to advance the development of high-performance FPGA solutions for mission-critical applications.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:

• Design and implement FPGA-based solutions for high-speed digital processing, signal processing, and control systems.
• Develop and optimize FPGA architectures, including RTL (Register Transfer Level) coding, simulation, synthesis, and timing analysis.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure FPGA designs meet system-level performance, reliability, and cost requirements.
• Participate in design reviews, requirements analysis, and test procedure development to ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Support integration and testing of FPGA designs, including debugging and troubleshooting hardware and firmware issues.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including design specifications, test plans, and analysis reports.
• Stay current on industry trends and advancements in FPGA technologies, and proactively identify opportunities for innovation and technology insertion.
• Work with GA engineering staff and chief engineers on concept development, prototype design, and integration of FPGA solutions for satellite systems, advanced sensors, and other high-technology products.
• Demonstrate experience in improving legacy systems and developing new FPGA-based systems.
• Perform FPGA engineering analyses, document findings, communicate results to engineering and program management staff, and provide technical presentations.
• Function in an advisory or leadership role for a project/program, providing planning, direction, and oversight to less experienced staff or teams in technical efforts involving FPGA-based systems.
• Evaluate integration of FPGA solutions within broader system architectures and ensure appropriate documentation, testing, and updates are completed.
• Plan for future applications of FPGA solutions based on new developments in engineering technology.
• Communicate with colleagues and management throughout solution development and deployment cycles.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.
  
  
  

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; nine or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, seven or more years of experience with a masters degree, or four or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
  
  
  

Required Experience:

• Expertise in FPGA design, including RTL coding (e.g., Verilog, VHDL) and development for high-speed data processing applications.
• Experience with FPGA tools such as Xilinx Vivado, Libero, or similar platforms.
• Proficiency in simulation tools for FPGA verification (e.g., ModelSim, QuestaSim).
• Embedded processing and controls; analysis, design, and implementation of hardware systems to include digital, analog, and RF is required; guiding a design through development and into production.
  
  
  

Desired Skills (ranked high to low):

• Experience with PCB Design Software (e.g., Altium, PADS), SPICE circuit simulation tools, and signal integrity tools (e.g., HyperLynx, ANSYS).
• Familiarity with scripting languages (e.g., Python, Tcl) for FPGA tool automation.
• Knowledge of high-speed communication protocols (e.g., PCIe, Ethernet, DDR, SERDES).
• Demonstrated technical expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice, with the ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively interface with other departments, customers, government representatives, and/or professionals.
• Capable of representing the organization as a prime technical contact.
• Customer-focused and able to formulate plans based on the development of innovative new designs in resolving advanced technical engineering problems.
• Must be able to work on a self-initiated basis or in a team environment.
• Must be able to prepare and conduct detailed technical presentations and reviews for all levels of management, professional and support staff, customers, potential customers, and government representatives.
  
  
  

Additional Requirements:

• Must be customer-focused and able to work on a self-initiated basis or in a team environment, with the ability to work extended hours and travel as required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD TS/SCI security clearance is required.
  
  
  

Job Type: Full-Time Salary

Salary range: 105,890 - 189,545