Firmware Engineer

Job Title: Sr. Firmware Engineer II - FPGA/VHDL (Remote)

Job Description

This role focuses on designing, implementing, and validating advanced FPGA-based firmware for space domain awareness and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems. You will collaborate closely with hardware and software teams to develop high-performance, reliable firmware that operates in challenging environments, including space. The position offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge FPGA technologies, contribute to mission-critical space and ISR programs, and be part of a highly skilled team that values continuous learning and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the hardware design team to define, refine, and document firmware requirements for FPGA-based systems.
• Complete FPGA logic design, coding, simulation, and verification using VHDL, ensuring robust and maintainable implementations.
• Perform synthesis, implementation, and timing analysis to meet performance, area, and power constraints on targeted FPGA platforms.
• Support hardware and software development teams during system bring-up, integration, and testing of new products.
• Provide subject-matter expertise on FPGA design methodologies, automated test development procedures, and best practices to internal teams and production support.
• Conduct research and analysis of customer specifications, datasheets, and technical manuals to determine design approaches, assess feasibility, and identify risks.
• Execute debugging and validation of FPGA designs in the lab, including root-cause analysis and resolution of complex issues.
• Develop and refine firmware architectures that support high-speed interfaces such as DDR4, Aurora, and multi-gigabit transceivers.
• Contribute to the development and optimization of FPGA-based image processing algorithms and related signal processing pipelines.
• Implement and verify software interfaces to firmware, including interrupts, DMA, and AXI-based communication paths.
• Participate in design and code reviews, providing constructive feedback and ensuring adherence to quality and reliability standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support systems operating in radiation environments, including implementing and validating SEU/SEL mitigation techniques.
• Assist with the creation and integration of custom IP cores from scratch to meet specific mission and system requirements.
• Support continuous improvement of development workflows, including the use of AI-assisted implementation tools and automation where appropriate.
• Engage in knowledge sharing and mentorship within the team, helping colleagues learn new technologies and techniques as projects evolve.

Essential Skills

• At least 8 years of professional, full-time firmware engineering experience.
• At least 8 years of experience in FPGA firmware design using VHDL.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in hand-coded FPGA implementation.
• Exposure to AI-assisted implementation workflows in VHDL-based FPGA development.
• Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or an equivalent discipline.
• Strong proficiency in FPGA logic design, coding, simulation, and testing using VHDL.
• Demonstrated experience with synthesis, implementation, and timing analysis for complex FPGA designs.
• Ability to interpret and analyze customer specifications, datasheets, and technical manuals to guide design decisions.
• Experience supporting hardware and software teams in system bring-up, integration, and test.
• Solid understanding of digital design fundamentals, including high-speed interfaces and memory subsystems.
• Proficiency in debugging FPGA designs in a lab environment using appropriate tools and methodologies.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Linux development or strong familiarity with Linux-based environments.
• Experience working in Yocto-based environments.
• Familiarity with communication interfaces such as RS‑422/RS‑485, I²C, SPI, Ethernet/GigE, TCP/IP, UDP, and CAN.
• Experience with high-speed interfaces, including DDR or multi-gigabit transceivers.
• Experience with Xilinx/AMD Versal architecture and related toolchains.
• Experience with FPGAs and embedded systems operating in radiation environments, including understanding SEU/SEL impacts and mitigation techniques.
• Experience implementing FPGA-based image processing algorithms.
• Experience creating custom IP cores from scratch for FPGA implementations.
• Familiarity with C, C++, Python, or MATLAB and experience translating algorithms from scripted languages into HDL.
• Experience with software interfaces to FPGA logic, including interrupts and DMA.
• Experience with DDR4, Aurora, and high-speed transceiver design and verification.
• Familiarity with AXI Stream and AXI Memory Mapped interfaces.
• Experience with PCB design, schematic capture, and layout using tools such as Altium Designer.
• Interest in space systems, space domain awareness, and working on payloads deployed in orbit.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.

Work Environment

This is a remote position, offering flexibility to work from your preferred location while collaborating with a distributed team of highly skilled engineers. You will engage regularly with colleagues who are experts in their domains and who value learning from one another to achieve shared mission objectives. The work centers on advanced optical and space domain awareness systems, including payloads that operate in orbit, which provides a unique opportunity to see your designs deployed in space. Occasional travel may be required, up to approximately two weeks per quarter, for on-site integration, testing, or team collaboration activities. The environment emphasizes professional collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous learning, with modern toolchains and technologies supporting FPGA, firmware, and embedded system development.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Tucson, AZ.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $73.00 - $97.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 11, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.