FPGA/Embedded Hardware Design Engineer

SAIC•College Park, MD

About The Position

SAIC is seeking an experienced FPGA/Embedded-Systems Engineer to design, verify, and integrate advanced digital processing architectures. The role calls for strong FPGA development experience using VHDL and Verilog, embedded software skills, and a deep understanding of digital signal processing, timing closure, and Linux-based workflows. The engineer will solve complex technical problems and deliver robust, production-ready designs. The position includes developing and verifying FPGA architectures, implementing high-throughput streaming data paths, automating simulation and implementation workflows, and debugging FPGA hardware and software. It also involves developing embedded software, supporting DSP algorithm design as project needs require, working with SDR platforms and microcontroller firmware, building customized embedded Linux distributions, and maintaining development environments.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen.
Must hold an active TS/SCI with Polygraph level clearance.
Required education and experience: Bachelor's degree and 14 or more years of experience; Master's degree and 12 or more years; or PhD or JD and 9 or more years.
Additional experience may be substituted for a degree.
Strong FPGA development experience using VHDL and Verilog.
Embedded software skills and a deep understanding of digital signal processing, timing closure, and Linux-based workflows.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Versal devices is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Develop FPGA architectures using VHDL-2019, VHDL-2008, VHDL, and basic Verilog as required.
Design solutions targeting Xilinx UltraScale+ MPSoC devices; experience with Versal devices is a strong plus.
Create self-checking simulation constructs and testbenches to validate functional and corner-case behavior.
Script simulation, synthesis, and implementation workflows using Tcl and shell scripting to automate toolflows.
Implement high-throughput streaming data paths, including FIFO structures, CDC mechanisms, circular buffers, clocking architectures, and timing constraints.
Perform FPGA debugging through HDL simulation, waveform analysis, hardware debugging, and logic analyzer tools.
Develop and debug embedded software in C, C++, Python, and related languages to interface with FPGA logic.
Contribute to DSP algorithm design when needed, depending on project requirements.
Work with SDR platforms such as Ettus USRP, Epiq Matchstiq, and Pluto SDR to support system-level development.
Apply knowledge of microcontroller firmware design for supporting embedded subsystems.
Develop on Linux systems and write automation scripts using Bash.
Use Xilinx Vivado and Vitis toolchains, including Hardware Manager, IP Integrator, IP packaging, and XSim simulation.
Simulate HDL using tools such as Aldec Riviera Pro and ModelSim for detailed design verification.
Build customized embedded Linux distributions for MPSoC and Versal devices using Yocto.
Set up and debug FlexLM license servers as part of maintaining development environments.
Leverage AI/ML code assistants to enhance development efficiency when appropriate.
Use Git for version control and collaborative software and FPGA development.