Demo

Sr. Firmware Engineer

Henpen Corporation
Herndon, VA Full Time
POSTED ON 8/29/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 9/27/2026
Senior Firmware Engineer
Herndon, Virginia, USA
140000-210000
Job Description

We are looking for an experienced Firmware Engineer to contribute to the development of products on our Research and Development Division in Herndon VA. 
As part of our R&D division, you would join our firmware team to develop, integrate, and test our firmware products in our spaced-based, electro-optical systems. 

Essential Job Duties 
Lead and contribute to firmware architecture and implementation for space-based electro-optical payloads and laser systems 
Perform end-to-end firmware development lifecycle: from requirements analysis through design, coding, simulation, verification, and validation 
Collaborate closely with hardware, systems, software, and optical engineers in cross-functional teams to define interfaces, resolve design issues, and ensure seamless system integration 
Participate in task-based iterative development cycles, incorporating rapid feedback, frequent integration points, and incremental testing to meet mission reliability goals 
Conduct lab-based debugging, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and system-level validation using diagnostic tools and protocols 
Support peer code reviews, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement of development processes and best practices 
Apply high-reliability and space-grade techniques (e.g., fault tolerance, radiation mitigation) in a collaborative, team-oriented environment Contribute to documentation, design reviews, and risk identification throughout the product lifecycle 
 
Job Requirements
Experience and Expertise Required 7 years relevant experience BS/MS in EE or equivalent Expertise with firmware engineering, VHDL (RTL), System Verilog (Testing) Expertise with Digital Signal Processing, precision timing, optical comms (modems), LIDAR Experience with Xilinx, Microchip, and Lattice FPGAs and their associated development tools Experience developing test benches and running simulations to exercise the design and to verify compliance Experience interfacing and working with hardware designers during development, integration, and test phases Experience using schematics and block diagrams as inputs for firmware design Experience in high-speed serial links: GTY/GTM, JESD204B/C, Ethernet, SpaceWire Experience in standard peripheral interfaces: SPI, I2C, UART, LVDS, etc. Experience in memory interfaces: DDR3/4, QDR, FRAM, etc. Experience with GitHub, CI/CD for FPGA flows, code reviews, automated linting, synthesis, regression testing, timing closure, bitstream generation, release tagging 
Bonus Areas Experience in Python for build/testing automation and data analysis Experience with Linux, scripting, Docker containers, and automation Experience developing Hi-Rel/Space programs and TMR coding Experience developing code (C, C ) for microcontrollers Experience with VS Code

We are a leading developer of laser and electro-optic systems for the aerospace community, with key contributions to lasers for atmospheric sensing, laser communications, and lidar sensors for NASA, DoD, and commercial customers.
Qualifications
Job Requirements
Experience and Expertise Required 7 years relevant experience BS/MS in EE or equivalent Expertise with firmware engineering, VHDL (RTL), System Verilog (Testing) Expertise with Digital Signal Processing, precision timing, optical comms (modems), LIDAR Experience with Xilinx, Microchip, and Lattice FPGAs and their associated development tools Experience developing test benches and running simulations to exercise the design and to verify compliance Experience interfacing and working with hardware designers during development, integration, and test phases Experience using schematics and block diagrams as inputs for firmware design Experience in high-speed serial links: GTY/GTM, JESD204B/C, Ethernet, SpaceWire Experience in standard peripheral interfaces: SPI, I2C, UART, LVDS, etc. Experience in memory interfaces: DDR3/4, QDR, FRAM, etc. Experience with GitHub, CI/CD for FPGA flows, code reviews, automated linting, synthesis, regression testing, timing closure, bitstream generation, release tagging 
Bonus Areas Experience in Python for build/testing automation and data analysis Experience with Linux, scripting, Docker containers, and automation Experience developing Hi-Rel/Space programs and TMR coding Experience developing code (C, C ) for microcontrollers Experience with VS Code

We are a leading developer of laser and electro-optic systems for the aerospace community, with key contributions to lasers for atmospheric sensing, laser communications, and lidar sensors for NASA, DoD, and commercial customers.
Why is This a Great Opportunity
We are looking for an experienced Firmware Engineer to contribute to the development of products on our Research and Development Division in Herndon VA. 
As part of our R&D division, you would join our firmware team to develop, integrate, and test our firmware products in our spaced-based, electro-optical systems. 

 

Salary.com Estimation for Sr. Firmware Engineer in Herndon, VA
$138,308 to $159,039
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Sr. Firmware Engineer?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Sr. Firmware Engineer career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$117,524 - $131,245
Income Estimation: 
$145,630 - $167,634
Income Estimation: 
$145,630 - $167,634
Income Estimation: 
$162,729 - $194,659
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Henpen Corporation

  • Henpen Corporation Huntsville, AL
  • CONFIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITYTechnical Product Manager – FPGA, RF & DSP Location: Huntsville, Alabama Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire Salary Range: $120... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • Henpen Corporation Johnson, TN
  • Quality Engineer Johnson City, Tennessee, USA 90000-110000 Job Description The Quality Engineer is responsible for supporting and improving quality systems... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • Henpen Corporation Johnson, TN
  • CONFIDENTIAL SEARCH Engineering Manager – High Precision Manufacturing Johnson City, Tennessee Area (Onsite) $155,000 – $165,000 Base 20% Bonus Relocation ... more
  • 4 Days Ago

  • Henpen Corporation Groton, CT
  • Sensing and Communications Scientist Groton, Connecticut 150 170,000 Job Description Job Description We are seeking a highly motivated Scientist to contrib... more
  • 5 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Sr. Firmware Engineer jobs in the Herndon, VA area that may be a better fit.

  • A2e Technologies Reston, VA
  • Title: Embedded S/W /Firmware Engineer Term: Contract-Possible Perm Start Date: ASAP Location: Onsite VA Responsibilities: Lead and contribute to firmware ... more
  • Just Posted

  • Molg Sterling, VA
  • Job Description. Job Description. ABOUT US. Hey. We’re Molg 👋 We’re building robotic systems that make electronics manufacturing circular. We work with hy... more
  • 25 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!