FPGA Architect in Harwell

At Open Cosmos we are solving the world’s biggest challenges from space, providing businesses, governments and researchers access to more readily available information than ever before. The CTO division is where Open Cosmos technology comes to life. Covering engineering, product development, and technical innovation, the team designs, builds, and operates the satellites, systems, and platforms that make our missions possible. It’s a highly collaborative environment where ideas become real hardware, software, and data solutions that deliver impact from space.

Working in the Flight Software Team, the team designs, implements, and tests software for both onboard and ground systems, ensuring reliability, performance, and scalability across our growing satellite fleet. Collaborating closely with systems, electronics, and mission operations, the team brings together innovation and precision to make every Open Cosmos mission fly.

What You'll Be Doing

• Defining and owning FPGA architecture across spacecraft platforms and missions
• Translating system and mission needs into clear, robust FPGA design strategies
• Designing high-speed, high-reliability digital systems for payload and platform applications
• Driving architectural decisions across performance, power, and reliability trade-offs
• Establishing design standards, reusable IP, and scalable frameworks across programmes
• Leading the FPGA lifecycle from concept through simulation, verification, and hardware validation
• Shaping verification approaches including simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, and fault injection
• Supporting bring‑up and optimisation of high‑speed interfaces and complex data pipelines
• Embedding fault tolerance and resilience into system design
• Acting as the technical authority for FPGA, guiding decisions and resolving complex challenges
• Working closely with electronics and software teams to ensure seamless integration
• Engaging with suppliers and partners on FPGA technologies and tooling
• Contributing to design reviews, test campaigns, and anomaly investigations
• Driving continuous improvement in how we design, build, and validate FPGA systems
• Supporting and mentoring engineers, helping raise the bar across the team
• Maintaining clear architectural documentation, standards, and traceability

What You'll Bring

• Deep knowledge of FPGA architecture and digital design using HDL (VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog)
• Strong understanding of FPGA toolchains and ecosystems (Vivado, Quartus, Libero, Lattice)
• Knowledge of high-speed interfaces, data pipelines, and real-time processing systems
• Understanding of FPGA and software integration, including embedded systems environments
• Knowledge of verification, simulation, timing analysis, and design optimisation techniques
• Understanding of fault-tolerant and resilient design approaches (e.g. redundancy, error detection)
• Strong systems thinking, with the ability to balance performance, power, and reliability
• Clear and structured approach to documentation, traceability, and design governance
• Ability to make sound technical decisions and communicate them effectively
• Collaborative mindset, working across multidisciplinary teams
• A drive to improve how things are done — technically and as a team

For this role you can be based in any of our locations. To apply, you must have the legal right to work in your chosen location.

Why Open Cosmos?

• Work at the cutting edge of space technology with customers around the globe.
• A mission-driven company making space accessible to help solve real-world challenges.
• A diverse, ambitious, and supportive team.

Division CTO Department FLIGHT SOFTWARE Locations Harwell, UK, Athens, Greece, Barcelona, Spain, Porto, Portugal, Tenerife Remote status Hybrid Employment type Full-time

About Open Cosmos Open Cosmos is dedicated to solving customer problems with insights from space. Whether this is monitoring agricultural yields, assessing the damage of oil spills or providing navigation solutions, we believe that data from satellites is the most effective and sustainable way of achieving this.