FPGA Design Engineer

Role: FPGA Design Engineer
Location: Whitstable, Kent
Salary: competitive, we will pay for the right talent genuinely
We are seeking an experienced FPGA Design Engineer to join our highly skilled small team, working in a technically challenging and highly regulated environment.
The successful candidate will lead FPGA firmware design and development projects.
This role is ideal for a proactive individual with at least 5 years of experience, looking to apply their expertise across the full product lifecycle, from concept to verification and qualification.
Duties and Responsibilities:
* Capture and trace requirements from customer specifications through to detailed design.
* Architect, implement, and verify FPGA designs using VHDL for high-performance and safety-critical applications.
* Generate and maintain comprehensive design documentation.
* Take ownership of assigned work packages, ensuring timely delivery within budget and technical requirements.
* Work closely with electronics, firmware, and software engineers for system integration.
* Participate in peer reviews and maintain documentation of development activities.
Contribute to new product development and maintain legacy designs as required.
Essential Skills and Experience:
* Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
* 5+ years of FPGA and complex digital hardware design experience.
* Proficiency with FPGA toolchains such as Xilinx Vivado, ModelSim, or Questa.
* Strong understanding of digital timing, finite state machines, and clock domain crossing.
* Proficient in VHDL and C/C++, with experience developing self-checking testbenches.
* Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; proactive in learning and applying new technologies.
* Knowledge of video standards (e.g., HDMI/DVI) and communication protocols (e.g., UART, SPI, I2C).
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively in a small team.
* Good organizational and planning skills.
Desirable:
* Experience working with safety-critical standards such as DO-178, DO-254, or BS EN 61508.
* Familiarity with high-speed interfaces and protocols (e.g., AXI, DDR, HDMI, PCIe, USB, Ethernet).
* Scripting skills in TCL or Python for build automation or verification support.
* Exposure to model-based design workflows (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink integration)