Senior Firmware/FPGA Engineer

Job Details

Description
At BlueHalo, an AV company, we provide a full suite of exquisite, space-qualified hardware trusted to fly in the most extreme environments space presents across GEO, MEO, LEO and Cislunar orbits. With hundreds of systems flying in space, our customers turn to BlueHalo when a mission can't fail.
Our team is expanding to do the big things that have never been done before – the things the nation and the world are counting on us to deliver. Join the transformation and help us make this impact now.
BlueHalo seeks a skilled Senior FPGA Engineer to join a multi-disciplinary team within the SpaceTech division. This role focuses on developing high-performance digital systems for electromechanical, electro-optical, control, and communication solutions, utilizing
SoC, FPGA, GPP, and microcontroller architectures.
Core Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be responsible for end-to-end firmware development and validation for space electronics.

Design & Development

• Architect and implement mission-specific and general-purpose firmware for FPGAs, microcontrollers, and RTOS-based systems.

• Develop and maintain firmware for standard and specialized peripheral interfaces, including:

• Analog-to-Digital (ADC) and Digital-to-Analog (DAC) Converters.

• Serial communication links (e.g., SpaceWire, SPI, CameraLink, 1Gb+ Ethernet, MIL-1553B).

• Optimize embedded software for radiation-hardened and high-reliability space environments.

• Develop and maintain automated build scripts (TCL) for the FPGA firmware platform.

Integration & Validation

• Conduct rigorous system integration, testing, and validation of firmware in simulated and real-world aerospace conditions.
• Deploy and verify firmware functionality on physical hardware devices.
• Collaborate closely with hardware and software engineers to ensure seamless system functionality.
• Ensure technical compliance with relevant space industry standards (e.g., NASA, ESA, MIL-STD).

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science.
• Hardware Implementation: Proven experience successfully taking VHDL or Verilog designs from concept to physical hardware implementation.
• Digital Design: Expertise in digital design techniques, including multiple clock-domain management.
• Verification & Debug: Proficient with in-system debuggers and logic analyzers.
• Tooling: Experience with Tool Command Language (TCL) for script automation.
• Physical Design: Experience designing and managing FPGA physical constraints.
• Security: Ability to obtain and maintain a US security clearance.

Highly Desired Qualifications (Preferred)

• Experience Level: Six years of experience in embedded systems firmware development, preferably for aerospace or space applications.

• FPGA Platforms: Six years of experience using and implementing designs on:

• Xilinx devices (Zynq, Virtex, Kintex) and toolchains (Vivado, ISE).

• Microchip devices (RTAX, ProASIC, RTG4) and toolchains (Libero).

• Languages: Six years of experience designing with Hardware Description Languages (VHDL or Verilog).

• Embedded Computing: Knowledge of RTOS, bare-metal firmware, and hardware-software co-design principles.
• Verification: Familiarity with modern verification techniques (e.g., linting and constrained random testing).
• Specialized Knowledge: Familiarity with Xilinx SoC devices, FPGA floorplanning, Xilinx System Generator, hardware accelerators, and space communication protocols.
• Additional Languages: Familiarity with C/C++, Python, or Java for embedded software or scripting tasks.
• Tooling: Familiarity with alternative synthesis and simulation environments (Synopsys, Aldec).

Salary Range: $125,000 - $183,000

• BlueHalo, an AV company pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Determination of official compensation or salary relies on several factors including, but not limited to, level of position, job responsibilities, geographic location, scope of relevant work experience, educational background, certifications, contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, alignment with local internal equity as well as alignment with market data.
• Our compensation package also includes components designed to support employees' total well-being, which should be considered when evaluating our competitive benefits package. These benefits include health insurance, life insurance, disability, company holiday and paid time off, parental leave, 401(k) company match and contributions, professional development/training reimbursements, and other work/life programs.