Senior Electrical Engineer - FPGA Firmware

The role

This person will lead FPGA gateware architecture for real-time control loops and support the development of space-to-space power beaming spacecraft. They will manage the full lifecycle of VHDL or Verilog gateware from architecture through testing.

What you will do

• Lead FPGA gateware architecture for real-time control loops.
• Decompose and allocate system and board-level requirements to FPGA specifications.
• Review product specifications and generate module-level block diagrams and design concepts.
• Drive timing closure, pipelining, and clock-domain crossing strategy.
• Set partitioning strategy between hard processor subsystems and reconfigurable fabric.
• Lead full lifecycle development of VHDL or Verilog gateware.
• Map FPGA simulation work products to system-level requirements.
• Lead bench-level system integration of FPGA designs with hardware, firmware, and software.
• Refine and enforce consistent firmware development processes and version control practices.
• Mentor firmware engineers and establish FPGA design/verification standards.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of professional experience designing and verifying FPGA gateware in VHDL or Verilog.
• Experience with FPGA/SoC design toolchains, including synthesis, place-and-route, and timing closure.
• Demonstrated experience implementing real-time control loops in reconfigurable logic.
• Thorough understanding of version control best practices and tools for tracking changes to an FPGA baseline.

Nice to have

• Experience evaluating radiation-tolerant FPGA/SoC platforms.
• Experience implementing DSP or signal-processing in FPGA fabric.
• Familiarity with spacecraft communications protocols (CCSDS) such as AOS, EPP, TM/TC, SPP.
• Experience with formal verification or advanced simulation methodologies.
• Experience with high-speed serial interfaces, control interfaces, and memory interfaces.
• Experience with FPGA devices and processor-integrated SoCs.
• Familiarity with backplane-based architecture and board-to-FPGA interface constraints.
• Experience with NASA/DoD life cycle and technical reviews.
• Experience mentoring engineers or establishing team-wide design standards.
• Ability to prioritize assignments and complete design/project goals with minimal oversight in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave

Before you apply

• All offers are contingent upon results of a thorough background check.
• Must provide proof of eligibility to work in the US.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

About the company

Star Catcher is building the first energy grid in space to power the orbital economy. They are building technology to wirelessly beam energy to spacecraft's existing solar panels.