Lead FPGA Design Engineer

As part of our mission to build cutting-edge mixed-signal systems, we are seeking a Lead FPGA Design Engineer to own the architecture and implementation of performance-critical, production-grade FPGA designs on Xilinx platforms.

This role is ideal for someone with deep expertise in RTL design, FPGA implementation flows, AXI-based system integration, and hardware bring-up, who thrives at the intersection of digital design, embedded systems, and real-time signal processing.

Role Overview

As Lead FPGA Design Engineer, you will architect, implement, and optimize the full FPGA design stack — from RTL coding and IP integration to synthesis, timing closure, and hardware validation. You will work across:

• RTL design and verification (VHDL / Verilog)
• AXI-based system interconnects and IP integration
• FPGA synthesis, implementation, and timing closure
• Mixed-signal interfaces and high-speed serial protocols
• Embedded processor subsystems (MicroBlaze / RISC-V)
• FPGA bring-up, hardware debugging, and signal analysis
  
  

You will provide strong technical leadership, mentor the FPGA engineering team, and collaborate closely with hardware, embedded software, systems, and DSP teams.

Key Responsibilities

• FPGA Architecture & System Design
• Architect modular, reusable FPGA design frameworks targeting Xilinx UltraScale+, Versal, and Zynq MPSoC platforms
• Define top-level FPGA architecture including partitioning, clocking strategy, and interface hierarchy
• Make critical design decisions balancing latency, throughput, resource utilization, and power
• Drive Partial Reconfiguration (PR) and Dynamic Function eXchange (DFX) strategies where applicable
• Own the FPGA design database, release process, and version-controlled design environment
• RTL Design & Implementation — Core Mandate
  
  

RTL ownership is a non-negotiable expectation of this role.

• Design and develop production-quality RTL in VHDL and/or Verilog for complex FPGA designs
• Define and enforce RTL coding standards, review guidelines, and reuse methodologies across the team
• Implement and optimize:
• AXI4 / AXI4-Lite / AXI4-Stream interfaces and interconnect fabrics
• Custom IP cores and Xilinx catalog IP integration
• MicroBlaze RISC-V processor subsystems
• DSP blocks, FIFOs, state machines, and control logic
• Manage CDC (Clock Domain Crossing) strategies and reset architectures across multi-clock designs
• Execute synthesis and implementation in Vivado, driving timing closure on complex, multi-constraint designs
• I/O Planning, Constraints & Timing Closure
• Lead I/O planning, pinout definition, and package-level resource allocation for high-density FPGA designs
• Define and manage XDC constraints: timing, placement, I/O standards, and physical implementation directives
• Drive timing closure through floorplanning, pipelining, and logic restructuring
• Optimize designs for performance, power, and resource utilization across implementation runs
• Hardware Bring-Up & Debugging
• Lead FPGA bring-up on target hardware; serve as the primary technical escalation point during board bring-up
• Debug complex FPGA designs using ILA, ChipScope, JTAG, and logic analyzers
• Collaborate with PCB/hardware teams on signal integrity, power delivery, and mixed-signal interface validation
• Integrate and validate JESD204B/C, PCIe, Ethernet, and other high-speed serial interfaces
• Verification & Validation
• Define verification strategies, simulation environments, and sign-off criteria for functional validation
• Review and guide development of VHDL/Verilog test benches for unit and integration-level testing
• Apply formal verification or advanced simulation methodologies where applicable
• Document design specifications, implementation details, and test results to production-grade standards
• Leadership & Mentorship
• Mentor junior and mid-level FPGA engineers; conduct thorough RTL and design reviews
• Define engineering standards, best practices, and system-level design documentation
• Serve as technical point of contact in cross-functional discussions with hardware, software, and systems teams — and external stakeholders where required
• Present architecture proposals and design reviews to management and customers; strong communication skills are essential
• Participate in hiring, technical interviews, and team growth planning
• Drive project planning, effort estimation, and technical risk assessment
• Research & Technology Alignment
• Evaluate emerging Xilinx/AMD platforms, tools, and IP and make adoption recommendations
• Stay current with advances in FPGA architecture, high-speed design, and real-time signal processing
• Translate DSP algorithm and systems research into efficient, timing-closed FPGA implementations
• Contribute to automation using TCL and/or Python scripting for design flow and tool integration
  
  

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• Master's degree preferred
  
  

Experience

• 7–10 years of hands-on FPGA design and implementation experience on Xilinx platforms
• Proven track record delivering production-grade RTL for complex, timing-critical FPGA designs
• Demonstrated experience leading FPGA projects from architecture through bring-up and validation
  
  

Core Technical Skills

• Expert RTL design in VHDL and/or Verilog — MANDATORY:
• Production-quality coding practices, peer review, and reuse methodology
• CDC analysis, reset strategy, and multi-clock domain design
• AXI4 / AXI4-Lite / AXI4-Stream interface design and integration
• Deep proficiency with Vivado Design Suite:
• Synthesis, implementation, and advanced timing closure
• XDC constraint management, floorplanning, and physical optimization
• Hands-on experience with FPGA bring-up and hardware debugging (ILA, ChipScope, JTAG)
• Experience with MicroBlaze RISC-V processor subsystem implementation and integration
• Strong expertise in IP core development and Xilinx catalog IP customization
• Experience with mixed-signal designs and high-speed serial interfaces
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills for complex FPGA designs
  
  

Bonus / Good to Have

• Experience with specific Xilinx device families: UltraScale+, Versal, or Zynq MPSoC
• JESD204B/C interface design and validation experience
• Knowledge of high-speed serial protocols: PCIe, Ethernet, Aurora
• Partial Reconfiguration (PR) and Dynamic Function eXchange (DFX)
• DSP concepts and FPGA-based signal processing implementations
• Embedded software development for FPGA-based systems
• Formal verification or advanced simulation methodologies
• Proficiency in Python and/or TCL for design automation and CI/CD integration
• Experience in agile or scrum-based development environments
• Prior experience in a formal technical lead or team lead capacity
  
  

Soft Skills

• Strong systems thinking with the ability to navigate large, complex FPGA architectures
• Exceptional problem-solving under tight timing and resource constraints
• Cross-functional collaboration with hardware, embedded software, DSP, and systems teams
• Excellent communicator who documents clearly, presents confidently, and leads by example
• Ability to make and defend architectural decisions under ambiguity and project pressure
  
  

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package commensurate with lead-level experience
• Opportunity to shape the architecture of cutting-edge FPGA designs and technologies
• Leadership visibility with direct influence on team direction and technical strategy
• Professional development, conference participation, and training opportunities
• Collaborative and innovation-driven work environment
• Flexible work arrangements
  
  

Skills: design,fpga architecture,ip,timing,dsp,system verilog,xilinx,ip integration,microarchitecture,risc-v,timing closure,integration,rtl design,architecture,signal,closure,rtl coding,fpga