FPGA Design Engineer - Defence & Aerospace Sector
South East England - Hybrid Working Available
£40,000 - £55,000 + Benefits
(Permanent | Full-time)

Are you an experienced FPGA Design Engineer seeking a technically challenging role in a highly regulated environment? Our client - an established leader in cutting-edge technology for the defence and aerospace sectors - is looking for a proactive and skilled individual to join their expert team.

This is an exceptional opportunity to work on high-performance, safety-critical applications across avionics and maritime domains. You will take a lead role in FPGA design and development, contributing to projects from concept through to verification and qualification.

Key Responsibilities:

* Capture and trace requirements from customer specifications through to detailed design.

* Architect, implement, and verify FPGA designs using VHDL, ensuring performance and reliability in safety-critical systems.

* Generate and maintain detailed design documentation in line with regulatory and internal standards.

* Own and manage work packages, delivering on time and to spec.

* Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including electronics, firmware, and software engineers.

* Participate in design reviews and ensure thorough documentation of development activities.

* Support both new product development and ongoing maintenance of legacy systems.

Essential Skills & Experience:

* Degree qualified in Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, or similar.

* 5+ years' experience in FPGA and digital hardware design.

* Proficiency with tools such as Xilinx Vivado, ModelSim, or Questa.

* In-depth knowledge of digital design concepts including FSMs, timing analysis, and clock domain crossing.

* Strong skills in VHDL and C/C++, with experience creating self-checking testbenches.

* Familiarity with communication protocols like UART, SPI, I2C, and video standards such as HDMI/DVI.

* Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive, collaborative attitude.

Desirable Extras:

* Experience working to safety-critical standards (e.g., DO-178, DO-254, or BS EN 61508).

* Exposure to high-speed protocols such as AXI, DDR, HDMI, PCIe, USB, or Ethernet.

* Scripting knowledge in TCL or Python for automation and verification tasks.

* Understanding of model-based design workflows (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink)