Instrumentation Development Embedded Engineer

The role

You will own the development of high-speed control and protection systems for the Alpha fusion demonstrator using FPGA-based solutions. You will work across the full development lifecycle including HDL code, software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing, and embedded software integration.

What you will do

• Design, implement, and maintain HDL-based control and protection systems.
• Establish end-to-end FPGA development workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and SIL/HIL test environments.
• Develop embedded software, firmware, and low-level drivers to interface FPGAs with sensors, actuators, and other control systems.
• Collaborate across RF, controls, electronics, and systems teams to define system interfaces, ICDs, and verification plans.
• Help establish Proxima's FPGA development capability by defining reusable architectures, workflows, and HDL best practices.

Required qualifications

• Degree in Electronics, Embedded Systems, or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong proficiency in HDL (VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog) and software scripting (Python, C/C++).
• Proven experience integrating FPGAs with hardware peripherals, board-level electronics, and communication interfaces.
• Familiarity with modern software development practices (Git, CI, code review, automated testing).
• Systems-thinking approach with strong debugging skills spanning HDL, embedded firmware, and physical hardware.

Nice to have

• High-speed digital interfaces (multi-gigabit serial links, LVDS, SerDes, RF/instrumentation links) and PCB-level signal integrity.
• FPGA+processor platforms and MPSoCs (e.g., AMD/Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+).
• Precision timing and synchronization (IEEE 1588 PTP, White Rabbit)
• Network protocols (Ethernet).
• Real-time signal processing, fast protection systems, and high-speed data acquisition in fusion or industrial environments.
• HDL design methodologies and techniques for reliable radiation-hardened systems.
• Schematic comprehension and custom PCB development.

Before you apply

• Recruiter Interview (30-60 min)
• Technical Screening (30 min)
• Technical Panel (3x60 min)

About the company

Proxima Fusion is Europe's fastest-growing fusion company and the first spin-out from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP). They are developing hardware and infrastructure to deliver the world's first commercial stellarator fusion power plant.