Field Programable Gate Array Firmware Engineer III - Hardware Design

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. Key responsibilities include FPGA/SoC design, simulation and verification, generating design documentation, and firmware integration and testing. Required skills include experience in firmware design for FPGAs and SoCs, with knowledge of PCB hardware design being a plus.

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.

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, while ensuring engineering design and development activities meet customer quality, cost, and schedule requirements.
• Develop specifications, control documents, verification and validation plans, procedures, reports, and other documentation to support design and development activities.
• Maintains logs and manuals to document integration and testing
• Responsible for tracking 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

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Bachelor's of Science degree in Electrical Engineering or other related discipline and typically 6 or more years of relevant experience
• Higher education may substitute for 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 including collaborating with software and hardware engineers in firmware development, working with systems engineers for requirement definition, specification, and verification, and partnering with project management to meet design cost and schedule objectives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required

Qualifications We Prefer:

• 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)

This posting will be open for application for a minimum of 5 days and may be extended based on business needs.

Estimated Starting Salary Range: $108,496.89 - $149,183.22. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors, such as candidates' key skills, relevant work experience, and education/training/certifications. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.

SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.

Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances.

SNC is a global leader in aerospace and national security committed to moving the American Dream forward. We're known and respected for our mission and execution focus, agility, and disruptive and rapid innovation. We provide leading edge technologies and transformative solutions that support our nation's most critical security needs. If you are mission-focused, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to make our country stronger with state-of-the-art technologies that safeguard freedom, join our team!

SNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an environment free of discrimination. Employment decisions are made based on merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.