Fpga Design Engineer

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)