Firmware Engineer

Job ID: 2610675
Location: Crane, IN, United States
Date Posted: Mar 31, 2026
Category: Engineering and Sciences
Subcategory: Electrical Engr
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: Yes - 10% of the time
Minimum Clearance Required: Interim_Secret
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Secret
Potential for Remote Work: Hybrid
Benefits: Click here

Description

SAIC is seeking an FPGA Firmware Engineer – RF Systems Development to design and implement cutting-edge firmware for advanced receiver (Rx) and transmitter (Tx) systems operating in the microwave frequency band of the electromagnetic spectrum. This role supports the development of sea-based and aerospace platforms, leveraging field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to enable high-performance signal processing, system interfaces, and hardware integration.

The selected individual will play an integral role in implementing Digital Signal Processing (DSP) algorithms, designing high-speed system interfaces, and optimizing embedded architectures for RF systems. This position also involves lab-based hardware integration, testing, and debugging of FPGA-based systems, with a focus on ensuring compliance with stringent operational and environmental requirements, including MIL-STD standards.

This position supports onsite or collaborative work at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division and provides the opportunity to advance critical aerospace and sea-based RF systems at the forefront of defense technology.

FPGA-Based Design of Tx/Rx Systems:

• Develop and implement FPGA firmware to enable Rx/Tx system operations across the microwave spectrum (1 GHz to 100+ GHz).
• Utilize VHDL and/or Verilog for FPGA design, including coding, simulation, synthesis, and static timing analysis.
• Apply DSP algorithms for RF applications, including digital filtering, modulation/demodulation, FFTs, and error correction.
• Collaborate with RF engineers to ensure FPGA designs are optimized for signal fidelity, low latency, and efficient bandwidth utilization.

High-Speed Interfaces and System Integration:

• Design and implement high-speed interfaces for protocols such as PCIe, Ethernet, UART, I²C, SPI, and DDR memory.
• Integrate FPGA solutions with RF front-end systems, ensuring seamless interaction between digital and analog components.
• Enable real-time system monitoring and control via FPGA-based architectures, ensuring high reliability in mission-critical scenarios.

Hardware Bring-Up and Debugging:

• Perform lab-based system integration of FPGA firmware, employing hardware bring-up methods to validate Tx/Rx functionality.
• Use equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers to debug firmware-hardware interactions.
• Troubleshoot and resolve performance issues linked to hardware-software integration and high-speed data flows.

Testing, Validation, and Compliance:

• Support system testing and characterization under sea-based and aerospace operating conditions, emphasizing MIL-STD compliance.
• Develop automated test harnesses using scripting tools (e.g., TCL, Python, Bash) to validate FPGA performance and system interfaces.
• Assist in ensuring firmware designs meet environmental and operational specifications, including performance during atmospheric reentry.

Collaboration and Technical Leadership:

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including RF engineers, hardware engineers, and system architects, to deliver integrated solutions.
• Lead trade studies evaluating design alternatives, balancing performance against factors such as size, weight, power, and cost.
• Mentor junior engineers on FPGA development best practices, DSP implementation, and industry-standard design methodologies.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Five (5) or more years of FPGA firmware engineering experience, with expertise in VHDL/Verilog, simulation tools (e.g., ModelSim/Questasim), synthesis, and static timing analysis.
• Interim secret clearance required to start with the ability to obtain a Secret Clearance. SAIC will sponsor the clearance process if necessary.
• Hands-on proficiency in FPGA-based DSP algorithm implementation, including digital filtering, FFTs, and modulation/demodulation techniques.
• Experience designing and implementing high-speed protocols and interfaces, such as PCIe, Ethernet, SPI, DDR, and I²C.
• Proven expertise in hardware debugging and integration, utilizing tools like oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and logic analyzers.
• Familiarity with scripting languages like TCL, Python, or Bash for automation and test development.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience working with aerospace and sea-based systems, with knowledge of MIL-STD compliance requirements.
• Prior development experience with RF and microwave systems, including integration with RF front-end components.
• Familiarity with tools for high-speed circuit design and electromagnetic simulation (e.g., HFSS, CST).
• Experience with FPGA families from vendors like Xilinx, Intel (Altera), and Microsemi, including their embedded IP cores.
• Certifications in FPGA design, digital systems, or RF engineering are a plus.