Instrumentation Development Embedded Engineer (FPGA)

Location: Munich, Germany; onsite.

Company

hirify.global is a fusion company developing the hardware and infrastructure for commercial stellarator fusion power plants, including the Alpha and Stellaris machines.

What you will do

• Design, implement, and maintain HDL-based control and protection systems for the Alpha fusion demonstrator, beginning with plasma heating protection.
• Establish FPGA development workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop test environments.
• Develop embedded software, firmware, and low-level drivers connecting FPGAs with sensors, actuators, and control systems.
• Define reusable FPGA architectures, development workflows, testing methods, and HDL best practices for broader company use.
• Collaborate with RF, controls, electronics, and systems teams on interfaces, ICDs, and verification plans.

Requirements

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

Nice to have

• Experience with high-speed digital interfaces, multi-gigabit serial links, LVDS, SerDes, RF or instrumentation links, and PCB-level signal integrity.
• Experience with FPGA-plus-processor platforms and MPSoCs such as AMD/Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+.
• Knowledge of precision timing and synchronization, including IEEE 1588 PTP or White Rabbit, and network protocols such as Ethernet.
• Experience with real-time signal processing, fast protection systems, or high-speed data acquisition in fusion or industrial environments.
• Knowledge of HDL methodologies for reliable radiation-hardened systems, schematic comprehension, or custom PCB development.

Culture & Benefits

• Work on complex engineering challenges aimed at developing safe, clean fusion energy.
• Collaborate with an accomplished, multidisciplinary team across physics, engineering, software, manufacturing, and business functions.
• Join a diverse, high-performing environment focused on challenging assumptions and building with purpose.
• The role is classified at L2 within hirify.global’s framework; further details are available during recruitment.

Hiring process

• Recruiter interview lasting 30–60 minutes.
• Technical screening lasting 30 minutes.
• Technical panel consisting of three 60-minute interviews.