FPGA Firmware Engineer III

Sierra Nevada Corporation • Folsom, CA

67d • $108,496 - $149,183 • Hybrid

About The Position

Are you ready to unleash your technical creativity? Dream, Innovate, Inspire and Empower the next generation to transform humanity through technology and imagination! Firmware engineers at Sierra Nevada Company research, design, develop, test, certify, deploy and improve cutting edge products and services. We are looking for a talented Firmware Design Engineer to design, develop, document, integrate, test, and debug FPGA and SoC architectures for Department of Defense (DoD) systems. The role involves creating firmware for small form factor security devices and network systems. The Mission Solutions and Technologies (MST) business area provides affordable, turn-key command/control, communications, integrated ISR, force protection and security solutions worldwide. The MST team has a long legacy of supporting the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, commercial and international customers with years of experience in platform operations, engineering and full lifecycle management across domains - air, land, sea, space and cyber.

Requirements

• Bachelor's of Science degree in Electrical Engineering or other related discipline and typically 6 or more years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of engineering principles and practices
• Understanding of Computer Aided Engineering tools
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary design & development teams
• Basic understanding of digital circuit concepts
• Experience with FPGA HDL development, simulation and analysis, utilizing the VHDL language
• Average to Advanced experience with Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Visio)
• FPGA Design Experience using VHDL, with proficiency in Xilinx FPGAs/SoCs (Ultrascale+) and development tools (Vivado, Vitis)
• Experience with Altera, MicroSemi, or Cypress FPGAs is also desired
• Skilled in state machine design and high-speed digital bus design, including PCIe, Ethernet, USB, SPI, uSD, I2C, and serial interfaces
• Proficient with static timing analysis for FPGA/SoC designs
• Proficient with scripting (Python, Tcl)
• Understanding of C/C++
• Hands-on experience in the lab with hardware bring-up and unit testing of FPGA/SoC design using standard test equipment
• Experience with integration/debug tools such as digital multi-meters, power supplies, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers for serial/USB/I2C/Ethernet, impedance analyzers, and FPGA debug tools (ChipScope)
• Knowledge of interface and design documentation such as Functional block diagrams, Hardware Design Specifications, Hardware Design Descriptions, test procedures, and built-in-test methodologies
• Proven ability to work effectively in a multi-functional, interdisciplinary team environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required

Nice To Haves

• Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and Circuit Card Assembly (CCA) design
• Schematic capture design with Mentor Graphics tools (PADS, DxDesigner)
• CCA layout part placement and routing design practices
• Knowledge of FPGA Embedded Security Functions (Secure Boot, Anti-Tamper, encryption, authentication)

Responsibilities

• Implement advanced firmware designs (FPGA, SoCs, SOMs)
• Test and verification of FPGA/SoC firmware designs through simulations and during hardware/software integration
• Create detailed firmware design documentation and prepare for and conduct internal and external design reviews
• Initiate problem-solving for new and existing product designs, addressing and resolving difficult design issues on challenging projects
• Quick prototype solutions for complex and risky design elements
• Understand, plan, and execute technical activities in accordance with SNC policies, procedures, and specific customer requirements
• Develop specifications, control documents, verification and validation plans, procedures, reports, and other documentation to support design and development activities
• Maintain logs and manuals to document integration and testing
• Track firmware tasks within the Integrated Master Schedule and provide regular updates to the Project Engineer
• Responsible for the design and development of units from concept through qualification testing

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%
• Life insurance
• 3 weeks paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree