FPGA/ Firmware Engineer

RC Fornax; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job description

RC Fornax is seeking a FPGA Engineer to join our leading defence customer. This role offers a fantastic opportunity for a motivated individual to expand their skills and expertise within a dynamic and growing organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity to create advanced solutions for Electronic Countermeasure (ECM) programs, helping to protect personnel from threats like Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in both military and civilian environments. These systems are deployed across various platforms, providing the chance to work closely with partners and end users.

Key Responsibilities:

• Firmware requirements capture and management.
• FPGA design and analysis.
• Production of documentation for other engineers and evidence for design reviews.
• Development of FPGA test and FPGA integration plans.
• Support all firmware designs through the company firmware process.
• Modification of existing firmware designs and test benches.

Skills

Essential

• Using FPGA technologies especially from either Xilinx, Microsemi (Actel) or Lattice and their tools.
• Advanced verification techniques using either VHDL or System Verilog / UVM.
• Specifying complex timing and area constraints for efficient FPGA place and route.
• Ability to analyse system level requirements and derive detailed Firmware requirements.
• A methodical approach to the full firmware design lifecycle, working to a structured firmware process such as RTCA DO-254 or similar.
• Experience of working on safety related firmware to IEC 61508 would be advantageous.
• De-bugging firmware designs and supporting verification and integration at hardware and system level alongside Software and Hardware Engineers.
• Making technical decisions and mitigating technical risk for Firmware design activities.
• Ability to communicate effectively across different disciplines both verbally and in written form.
• Familiarity with Siemens EDA FPGA development tools including HDL Designer and ModelSim / Questa is an advantage.
• Engineering experience with radio systems and software defined radio or signal processing an advantage.
• Experience of mentoring more junior members of the team.

Desirable:

• Awareness of Safety, Security and other legislative constraints.
• Domain experience in Electronics Warfare and Electronics Countermeasure.

Working pattern:

• Hybrid 3-4 days on site per week.

Available Location:

• Luton
• Bristol
• Basildon

Due to the nature of this project, the successful candidate must hold Active SC Clearance and be a sole British national.