FPGA Engineer IV

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

2d•$169,520 - $200,824•Onsite

About The Position

The Flight Communications & Tracking Section at JPL is seeking an FPGA Engineer IV for its Software Defined Radios Group. The role supports FPGA development and implementation for the Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In-Situ Exploration (PROMISE) telecom subsystem. The group develops software- and firmware-defined digital flight electronics for telecommunications, radio metrics, and radar applications, covering product development from early concepts and prototyping through engineering and flight-model implementation, testing, and flight-operations support. For the PROMISE mission, the engineer will develop, implement, test, and deliver flight FPGA firmware for one or more FPGA designs in the Universal Space Transponder (UST) radio family. The engineer will join a multidisciplinary implementation team of approximately seven full-time-equivalent employees, industry partners, and subcontractors. The position reports programmatically to the PROMISE Telecom Product Delivery Manager or the PROMISE Radio Cognizant Engineer, and administratively to the Software Defined Radios Group Supervisor.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and at least 9 years of related work experience; or a master’s degree in a related discipline and at least 7 years of related work experience; or a Ph.D. in a related discipline and at least 5 years of related work experience.
Experience with complex, large-scale FPGA development, such as System on a Chip (SoC) designs.
Experience implementing complex digital signal processing (DSP) and spacecraft command, telemetry, and high-speed data interfaces, including MIL-STD-1553B, SpaceWire, RS-422, and Ethernet.
Experience with current industry FPGA development tools, design flows, and verification methodologies.
Extensive working knowledge of implementing FPGA and ASIC designs using Verilog and SystemVerilog.
Extensive knowledge of industry best practices in electronics and FPGA development, implementation, testing, and verification.
Experience developing design requirements and solving engineering problems.
Ability to work in a team environment and lead a team of engineers.
Ability to meet deadlines and respond to customers.
Strong oral, written, presentation, interpersonal, negotiation, and organizational skills.
Advanced knowledge in one or more of the following: PWB design, fabrication, and assembly; digital hardware; FPGAs and firmware; microprocessors; and embedded software.
Familiarity with standard test equipment used for electrical and RF testing.
Familiarity with industry-standard scripting languages such as Perl, Python, and TCL.
Experience with Windows and Linux operating systems and Bash Shell and shell scripting.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and delivering Electra- or UST-related software-defined radio products and spaceflight hardware.
Experience in cost account management and schedule tracking.
Advanced knowledge of applicable Laboratory and NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations.
Experience with DSP algorithm development, simulation, and analysis.
Extensive experience developing, maintaining, and managing reusable functional intellectual properties (IPs) for FPGA and ASIC designs.
Familiarity with current FPGA/ASIC verification methodologies such as Open Verification Methodology (OVM) and Universal Verification Methodology (UVM).

Responsibilities

Support the telecom systems engineering team with FPGA requirements development.
Implement signal processing and high-speed data interfaces in FPGA using Verilog and SystemVerilog.
Implement radiometric processing and telecom waveforms.
Implement and validate spacecraft telemetry modulation, command demodulation, and flight software interfaces.
Support the radio flight software development and implementation team during FPGA firmware and software integration and testing.
Support radio and subsystem integration, test, ATLO, and early operations.
Prepare and deliver presentations to technical and management review boards.
Provide input to programmatic and technical standards, practices, procedures, processes, and policies.
Support or lead flight FPGA implementation, simulation, hardware testing, and test-data analysis.
Develop and maintain FPGA documentation, including development and assurance plans, configuration management plans, specifications, requirements, test plans, and test procedures.
Support or lead flight FPGA design and delivery reviews.
Generate FPGA End Item Data Packages (EIDPs) and prepare FPGA flight releases.