Senior FPGA Developer

Basic Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, FPGA Development Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Hands on FPGA & Embedded Software experience in High Speed Radar & Communications Data Processing.
• Demonstrated development of embedded firmware/RTOS for real time DSP.
• HDL & HLS Knowledge: Strong RTL coding (Verilog, VHDL) and proficiency with development tools like Vivado, Lattice Diamond, Libero, plus Vitis HLS or equivalent.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, strong problem solving mindset, and ability to work cross functionally with RF, mechanical, firmware, and test teams.
• Ability to obtain & maintain an active TS/SCI clearance.
  
  

Job Description

The mission matters. So do the people behind it. With advancing defense technology at our core, what sets us apart is a culture of collaboration, purpose, and impact.

What is the mission?

Space is a critical domain, connecting our technologies, our security and our humanity. While others view space as a destination, we see it as a realm of possibilities, where we can do more— we can innovate, invest, inspire and integrate our capabilities to transform the future.

At Lockheed Martin Space, we aim to harness the full potential of space to cultivate innovation, reduce costs, and push the boundaries of what technology can achieve. We’re creating future-ready solutions, focusing on resiliency and urgency through our 21st Century Security® vision.

We’re erasing boundaries and forming partnerships across industries and around the world. We’re advancing spacecraft and the workforce to fuel the next generation. And we’re reimagining how space can connect us, ensuring security and prosperity.

By bringing together people that use their passion for purposeful innovation, at Lockheed Martin we keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges. Our people are some of the greatest minds in the industry and truly make Lockheed Martin a great place to work. With our employees as our priority, we provide diverse career opportunities designed to propel development and boost agility. Our flexible schedules, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits enable our employees to live a healthy, fulfilling life at and outside of work. At Lockheed Martin, we place an emphasis on empowering our employees by fostering innovation, integrity, and exemplifying the epitome of corporate responsibility. Your Mission is Ours.

Join us in shaping a new era in space and find a career that's built for you.

What does this role look like?

As a Senior FPGA Developer, you will be dedicated to the design, development, and production of high speed digital back ends that ingest, process, and forward data for aerospace and orbital payloads.

This Position Will Focus On

• FPGA architecture
• RTL coding
• High level synthesis
• Firmware/RTOS development
• High speed PCB integration
• Compliance with aerospace, and security standards.
• Mentorship of mid-level and junior FPGA/firmware developers.
• The creation of solutions that operate reliably in the space environment—temperature extremes, radiation, vacuum, and vibration.
  
  

Desired Skills

• M.S. or Ph.D. Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering or STEM related curriculum.
• 15+ years of hands on FPGA & Embedded Software experience in High Speed Radar & Communications Data Processing.
• Emerging FPGA Technologies:
• RFSoC / Integrated RF Data Converters – designing tightly coupled RF front ends and processing pipelines.
• 3 D Stacked or Heterogeneous FPGAs – leveraging silicon interposer or multi die packages for ultra-high bandwidth.
• High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) Integration – managing large data sets in system.
• Secure Boot & Silicon Level Security – implementing authentication, bit stream encryption, and anti-tamper mechanisms.
• Model Based Design & Hardware in the Loop (HIL) – using Simulink, LabVIEW, or Python based co-simulation to verify system behavior early. Testing Experience: Hands on with high speed test equipment (BERT, high bandwidth oscilloscopes, jitter analyzers).
• FPGA Platforms: Expertise with Xilinx, Lattice, and Microchip families
• Certifications: Xilinx Certified FPGA Engineer, Lattice Certified Designer, Microchip Certified Engineer, or IEEE EE/RF certifications.
• Radiation Hardening: Experience with rad hard FPGAs (e.g., Xilinx Virtex 5QV, Microchip RTG 4 rad hard) and mitigation techniques (TMR, ECC).
• AI/ML Acceleration: Development of FPGA based inference engines for on board data processing.
• Embedded Software: Advanced C/C++ development for bare metal or RTOS environments; familiarity with MISRA C or similar safety critical standards.
• Security & Compliance: Proven ability to work in a Top Secret environment, handling classified data per DoD/National Security regulations.
  
  

Other Important Information

By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match. Should this match be identified you may be contacted for this and future openings.

Ability to work remotely

Onsite Full-time: The work associated with this position will be performed onsite at a designated Lockheed Martin facility.