Senior FPGA & Embedded Systems 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 FPGA and embedded systems engineer who enjoys making complex hardware-based systems work in the real world. You will work across FPGA integration, embedded interfaces, board bring-up, testbenches, hardware/software integration, lab debug and prototype stabilisation. The role is suited to candidates who sit comfortably between FPGA design, embedded systems, electronics and practical system delivery.

Role Overview

Novomorphic is seeking a Senior FPGA & Embedded Systems Engineer to help deliver FPGA-enabled intelligent hardware platforms and embedded electronic systems. This role is different from a pure RTL design role. You will focus on the full system: FPGA logic, embedded processors, firmware interfaces, sensors, memory maps, hardware bring-up, data paths, lab validation and stable prototype delivery. The role combines FPGA engineering, embedded system integration, hardware debug, test automation, technical documentation and close collaboration with digital design, embedded software, AI and hardware teams.

What You Will Do

• FPGA and Embedded System Integration
  • Integrate FPGA logic with embedded processors, firmware, sensors, memories, host interfaces and external hardware.
  • Develop and refine register maps, memory maps, control interfaces and hardware/software APIs.
  • Implement or support RTL blocks, integration wrappers, interface logic and data movement paths.
  • Support timing, latency, determinism and resource trade-offs in FPGA-enabled systems.
  • Work with embedded firmware engineers to bring up drivers, HALs, diagnostics and control interfaces.
  • Support system-level integration across FPGA, embedded software, AI models, analogue hardware and power electronics.
  • Produce clear interface documentation, bring-up notes, test procedures and review material.
• Bring-Up, Debug and Validation
  • Bring up FPGA development boards, prototype PCBs and hardware demonstrators in the lab.
  • Create practical testbenches, simulations, regression checks and hardware validation scripts.
  • Debug hardware and firmware issues using oscilloscopes, logic analysers, protocol analysers and on-chip debug tools.
  • Support HIL-style testing, customer demos, grant-funded milestones and internal technical validation.
  • Develop repeatable bring-up and validation workflows that can be reused across projects.
  • Help move prototypes from fragile lab setups to stable engineering demonstrators.
• Collaboration and Technical Delivery
  • Work closely with FPGA designers, embedded software engineers, hardware engineers, AI engineers and system architects.
  • Participate in technical planning, design reviews, debug reviews and delivery reviews.
  • Identify technical risks early, especially around interfaces, timing, bring-up, stability and test coverage.
  • Mentor junior engineers in practical FPGA, embedded and lab-based engineering methods.
  • Help define good engineering habits for a growing start-up team.

What You Will Develop

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

• FPGA-based embedded system architecture
• Hardware/software interface design
• Register maps, memory maps and control APIs
• FPGA bring-up and board-level debug
• Practical testbench, simulation and regression workflows
• Embedded processor and SoC FPGA integration
• Lab instrumentation, diagnostics and prototype validation
• Real-time and deterministic embedded system behaviour
• System-level integration across AI, firmware, FPGA and hardware
• Reusable bring-up, validation, and integration processes

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a practical senior engineer who can make complex systems work, not just design isolated blocks. You should be comfortable in the lab, comfortable close to hardware and able to work across FPGA, firmware and system boundaries.

Essential Requirements

• Strong experience with FPGA-based embedded systems.
• Good VHDL, Verilog or SystemVerilog skills.
• Experience with FPGA toolchains such as Xilinx/AMD Vivado or similar.
• Experience with hardware bring-up and lab debugging.
• Good understanding of embedded processors, firmware interfaces and board-level systems.
• Experience defining or debugging register maps, memory maps, data paths or control interfaces.
• 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:

• SoC FPGA platforms such as Zynq, MPSoC, MicroBlaze, ARM or RISC-V systems
• Embedded C/C++ for firmware-level debug and integration
• Python scripting for test automation and lab workflows
• Industrial, motor-control, communications or edge AI systems
• Ethernet, SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, PCIe or other protocol experience
• HIL testing or real-time test environments
• Debug of sensors, ADCs, DACs, power rails or mixed hardware systems
• EMC-aware debug and prototype stabilisation
• Experience building customer demos or proof-of-concept systems
• Awareness of productisation, documentation and release quality

Familiarity with any of the following tools or environments is useful:

• Xilinx/AMD Vivado
• ModelSim, Questa or similar simulators
• Embedded C/C++ development environments
• Python-based test and automation workflows
• Oscilloscopes, logic analysers, protocol analysers and bench equipment
• Git and version control workflows
• Linux development environments
• JTAG, UART and hardware debug workflows

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, lab work and project delivery.
• High-quality delivery on assigned FPGA integration, bring-up, test or documentation tasks.
• Active participation in debug reviews, design reviews and multidisciplinary engineering discussions.
• Growing ownership of FPGA-enabled embedded systems and prototype stability.
• Improved bring-up speed, test repeatability and system-level 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

Novomorphic’s benefits package includes:

• 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 in the UK.