FPGA Design Engineer III

The FPGA Design Engineer III is responsible for the architecture, implementation, integration, and validation of advanced digital electronic systems centered around FPGA-based processing platforms. The role emphasizes FPGA design, high-speed digital interfaces, embedded processor integration, and hardware/software co-development while supporting complete electronic systems from concept through production.

The engineer will develop FPGA architectures, board-level hardware, embedded processor systems, and high-speed digital interfaces used in advanced microdisplay, imaging, sensing, and wearable embedded products. Responsibilities include FPGA implementation, PCB-level integration, system bring-up, embedded software interaction, and hardware/software debugging while collaborating closely with systems, optics, mechanical, software, and manufacturing teams.

Applications include AR/VR systems, HUDs/HMDs, imaging devices, sensor platforms, wearable electronics, and other embedded systems operating in SWaP-constrained environments.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Architect, implement, and validate FPGA-based digital systems including high-speed data paths, display interfaces, sensor interfaces, embedded processors, memory subsystems, communication peripherals, and real-time control logic.
• Develop FPGA designs using Verilog and/or VHDL including RTL development, simulation, synthesis, timing closure, constraint development, verification, on-chip debugging, and hardware validation.
• Design FPGA architectures including clock distribution, reset strategies, I/O bank planning, pin assignments, I/O standards, timing constraints, resource utilization, and overall device implementation to maximize performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Integrate embedded processor systems within FPGA devices including soft-core and hard-core processors, memory controllers, PCIe, Ethernet MACs, DMA engines, and other hard IP while developing custom peripherals, bus interfaces, and complete processor subsystems.
• Develop board support packages, hardware abstraction layers, peripheral drivers, and low-level software required to initialize, validate, and support FPGA-based embedded platforms while enabling software engineering teams through well-defined hardware interfaces and driver libraries.
• Configure, integrate, and optimize high-speed serial interfaces including multi-gigabit SerDes, LVDS, PCI Express, Ethernet, DisplayPort, HDMI, MIPI, memory interfaces, and other high-bandwidth communication channels.
• Integrate third-party IP cores and vendor reference designs into FPGA architectures while ensuring functional correctness, timing closure, and reliable system operation.
• Design and integrate custom PCB assemblies including schematic capture, component selection, power architecture, mixed-signal circuitry, memory interfaces, and high-speed digital electronics supporting FPGA-centric systems.
• Perform hardware/software co-debugging using simulation tools, embedded software debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, JTAG tools, and on-chip FPGA debugging resources to isolate functional, timing, and system integration issues.
• Define and implement complete digital data pipelines spanning sensors, processors, memories, FPGA logic, display interfaces, communication links, and external devices while optimizing throughput, latency, power consumption, and resource utilization.
• Generate engineering documentation including design specifications, interface definitions, FPGA architecture documentation, schematics, test procedures, verification reports, and manufacturing support documentation.
• Participate in prototype builds, design reviews, system integration, environmental testing, manufacturing support, and transition-to-production activities.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• REQUIRED: Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident. As a defense contractor Kopin is subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and you must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident (green card holder) to be considered for this position.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline.
• 5–8 years of experience developing FPGA-based digital systems and embedded electronic products.
• Strong proficiency with:
• Verilog and/or VHDL
• FPGA architecture and RTL development
• FPGA simulation and verification
• Timing analysis and timing closure
• Constraint development
• On-chip debugging techniques
• High-speed digital design
• Experience with:
• Intel, AMD/Xilinx, Microchip, and/or Lattice FPGA development environments
• FPGA processor systems (hard or soft processors)
• FPGA hardware/software co-design
• Integration of vendor and third-party IP
• Memory controllers, PCI Express, Ethernet MACs, DMA engines, and embedded peripherals
• Multi-gigabit SerDes configuration and debugging
• PCB-level digital hardware development
• Schematic capture and board bring-up
• Hardware/software integration and debugging
• Working knowledge of:
• PCI Express
• Ethernet
• LVDS
• HDMI
• DisplayPort
• MIPI DSI/CSI
• SPI, I²C, UART, GPIO
• DDR memory interfaces
• Experience using laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, JTAG debuggers, and FPGA on-chip debugging tools.
• Ability to independently architect, implement, debug, and validate complete FPGA-based electronic systems from concept through production.

PREFERRED JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Experience with:
• Video processing, streaming, and compression
• Digital signal processing
• Image processing pipelines
• Embedded Linux
• Hardware/software co-simulation and co-verification
• Processor-based SoC FPGA architectures
• Low-power and SWaP-constrained embedded systems
• AR/VR, imaging, wearable, or display products
• Strong working knowledge of:
• Embedded C/C++
• Low-level driver development
• Board support package development
• Real-time operating systems
• Schematic design using Altium Designer or equivalent

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Able to rotate from sitting to standing, lift 20 pounds, and gown according to clean room protocol when required.

Kopin Corporation is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer and as such all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class. If an applicant needs a reasonable accommodation due to a disability with the application process, there is additional information on our website at www.kopin.com/about/careers.