Senior Digital IC & FPGA Engineer in Cardiff

Company Overview

Novomorphic is a UK semiconductor and systems design company focused on system-first secure Edge AI. We design and deliver advanced electronics where power, thermal performance, RF behaviour, latency, reliability, and security constraints matter. Our work spans edge AI systems, digital IC design, analogue and mixed-signal systems, FPGA platforms, embedded systems, and compound semiconductor technologies. We work through focused delivery, paid pilots, demonstrators, partner-enabled projects, and CR&D programmes. Our aim is to turn complex technical work into practical engineering outcomes, strong partner confidence, and clear commercial proof-points. We are building Novomorphic from the ground up. We value technical excellence, ownership, curiosity, collaboration, and practical delivery.

The Opportunity

This is a senior engineering role for an experienced digital hardware or FPGA engineer who wants to work on advanced intelligent hardware, secure digital systems and FPGA-enabled electronic platforms. You will work in real engineering environments using industry-standard digital design, FPGA and verification workflows, collaborating with experienced IC designers, embedded engineers, AI engineers and system architects. The role is suited to candidates who can take digital systems from architecture through RTL implementation, simulation, synthesis, timing closure, bring-up and practical delivery.

Role Overview

Novomorphic is seeking a Senior Digital IC & FPGA Engineer to join our growing digital hardware and FPGA engineering capability. You will contribute to the design, implementation, verification, optimisation and documentation of FPGA and digital hardware systems for low-power intelligent electronics, edge AI hardware, control systems, secure platforms, communications and future semiconductor applications. The role combines hands‑on RTL design, FPGA implementation, digital architecture, hardware/software interface definition, timing closure, technical documentation and close collaboration with embedded firmware, AI, analogue and system teams.

What You Will Do

• Digital IC and FPGA Design
  • Design, implement, verify and optimise RTL blocks and FPGA subsystems.
  • Use VHDL, Verilog or SystemVerilog to develop digital hardware for real projects.
  • Work with FPGA toolchains for synthesis, implementation, timing closure, bitstream generation and design analysis.
  • Develop digital subsystems for control, signal processing, AI acceleration, secure hardware, communications and embedded platforms.
  • Define and implement interfaces such as AXI, SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, memory‑mapped registers and data movement paths.
  • Support digital architecture decisions, resource estimation, latency analysis and power/performance trade‑offs.
  • Produce clear technical documentation, design notes, register maps, interface descriptions and review material.
• Verification, Bring‑Up and Integration
  • Create practical testbenches, simulations and regression checks for FPGA and digital blocks.
  • Support FPGA board bring‑up, lab debug and hardware/software integration.
  • Debug designs using simulation tools, on‑chip logic analysers, oscilloscopes, protocol analysers and other lab equipment.
  • Work closely with embedded software engineers to define register interfaces, control paths and data movement mechanisms.
  • Support customer demos, internal prototypes, grant‑funded milestones and reusable engineering IP.
• Research, Reuse and Technical Growth
  • Develop and improve reusable RTL, FPGA and digital hardware IP.
  • Investigate emerging FPGA, digital IC, AI acceleration and secure hardware methodologies.
  • Contribute to feasibility studies, technical investigations, prototypes and innovation projects.
  • Translate digital hardware concepts into practical, testable and maintainable engineering outputs.
  • Mentor junior digital, FPGA and graduate engineers where appropriate.

What You Will Develop

Through the role, you will build and strengthen practical capability in:

• Advanced RTL and FPGA design techniques
• Digital IC and FPGA architecture
• VHDL, Verilog and SystemVerilog design workflows
• FPGA synthesis, implementation and timing closure
• Digital verification, simulation and testbench development
• Hardware/software interface design
• Low‑power and resource‑constrained digital design
• DSP, control and AI acceleration on FPGA platforms
• Secure digital hardware and embedded system integration
• Reusable digital IP development and documentation

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a technically strong, delivery‑focused engineer with deep interest in digital hardware, FPGA systems and practical semiconductor product development. You should be able to work hands‑on while also providing senior technical judgement and guidance.

Essential Requirements

• Strong experience in FPGA design, digital IC design or closely related digital hardware engineering.
• Strong VHDL, Verilog or SystemVerilog skills.
• Experience with FPGA implementation, synthesis and timing closure.
• Experience with Xilinx/AMD Vivado or comparable FPGA toolchains.
• Good understanding of digital architecture, hardware interfaces and data paths.
• Ability to debug digital designs using simulation and lab‑based tools.
• Ability to work across multidisciplinary engineering domains.
• Clear communication and willingness to document technical work properly.
• Ability to mentor junior engineers and take ownership of technical delivery.

Desirable Experience

• Experience through industry work, research, prototypes, coursework, lab work or practical development in areas such as:
• Digital IC design or ASIC design awareness
• SystemVerilog and structured verification methods
• DSP on FPGA or hardware acceleration
• AI acceleration or neural network deployment on FPGA
• Embedded processors, SoC FPGA, MicroBlaze, ARM or RISC‑V platforms
• Cryptography, secure boot, hardware security or trusted execution
• Motor control, communications protocols or industrial control applications
• High‑speed interfaces and memory controllers
• Python, TCL or scripting for automation
• Cadence or other EDA tool awareness
• Experience with customer‑facing prototypes or demonstrators

Tools and Environments

• Xilinx/AMD Vivado
• ModelSim, Questa, Xcelium or similar simulators
• VHDL, Verilog and SystemVerilog workflows
• Git and version control workflows
• Python or TCL scripting
• Oscilloscopes, logic analysers and protocol analysers
• Embedded software development environments
• Cadence or other EDA tool environments

Previous start‑up experience is not required, but strong hands‑on engineering experience and practical delivery judgement are important.

We Value Engineers Who

• Take ownership and follow through.
• Enjoy solving difficult engineering problems.
• Are curious, practical, and willing to learn quickly.
• Can work independently without disappearing into a silo.
• Collaborate well with engineers from different disciplines.
• Communicate clearly, especially when raising risks or blockers.
• Are comfortable in a start‑up environment where priorities can move quickly.
• Want to build real engineering capability, not just write documents or papers.

What Success Looks Like

Early success in this role means:

• Strong engagement with onboarding and technical delivery.
• High‑quality delivery on assigned RTL, FPGA, simulation, timing closure or integration tasks.
• Active participation in design reviews, debug sessions and multidisciplinary engineering discussions.
• Growing ownership of FPGA subsystems, digital architecture and reusable IP.
• Improved design quality, documentation, testability and project delivery confidence.
• Meaningful contribution to customer projects, internal platforms and funded innovation programmes.

Why Join Novomorphic?

At Novomorphic, you will:

• Work on next‑generation semiconductor, edge AI, FPGA and intelligent hardware technologies.
• Use industry‑standard engineering tools and workflows across semiconductor, FPGA, embedded and system design.
• Learn directly from experienced semiconductor, FPGA, embedded, AI and systems engineers.
• Contribute to real customer projects, internal platforms, reusable engineering IP and funded innovation programmes.
• Gain exposure to advanced low‑power, intelligent, digital, mixed‑signal and compound semiconductor technologies.
• Help strengthen the UK semiconductor and intelligent hardware ecosystem.
• Build a long‑term career in advanced semiconductor and electronic systems engineering.

Benefits

• 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Annual discretionary bonus scheme
• Life assurance
• Private medical insurance
• Additional benefits tailored to employee needs

Location and Working Model

This role is based in Cardiff, Wales. Working arrangements may vary depending on project and business requirements. Candidates must have the right to work.