Senior FPGA Engineer

TL;DR

Senior FPGA Engineer: Own the architecture and implementation of critical programmable logic systems across spacecraft for vehicle networking, RF systems, and real-time control of subsystems with an accent on fault tolerance, high-speed data routing, and telemetry downlink. Focus on implementing RTL in VHDL/SystemVerilog, verifying designs via simulation and hardware-in-the-loop, and integrating with propulsion, attitude, RF, and power systems.

Location: Los Angeles, CA. Must be a U.S. Person (citizen, permanent resident, or protected individual) per ITAR export control regulations

Salary: $120,000 – $225,000 + equity

Company

Building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown for LEO to deep space missions, backed by $450M from leading investors and with $500M in contracts.

What you will do

• Architect and implement FPGA systems in RTL using VHDL and SystemVerilog for spacecraft networking, RF, and real-time control.
• Verify and validate designs using simulation, bench-testing, and Hardware-in-the-Loop testbeds.
• Support integration, testing, and troubleshooting of FPGA designs across spacecraft development and manufacturing.
• Develop tools and infrastructure for rapid, high-reliability FPGA solutions.
• Implement fault tolerance strategies, real-time control, high-speed data routing, and telemetry downlink.

Requirements

• Bachelor's in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, math, or STEM + 3+ years professional experience
• 3+ years with complex FPGA designs in digital, mixed-signal, or RF applications
• Development experience with VHDL or SystemVerilog
• Experience integrating logic onto Xilinx SoC platforms
• Experience with DSP fundamentals, complex DSP logic, and software-defined radios on FPGAs
• Experience with high-speed SERDES (Ethernet, PCIe, JESD204C), AXI/AXI-Stream protocols, vendor IP, Python/TCL/Bash scripting, Linux systems programming, CI/CD, and hard real-time embedded systems

Nice to have

• Basic knowledge of electronics, computer architecture, control systems
• Experience with software verification, testing, performance analysis, and debugging

Culture & Benefits

• Fast-paced Series C space startup environment encouraging cross-stack development (HDL to embedded software).
• Comprehensive benefits: paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and more.
• Equity in the company.
• Thrive in non-traditional career paths; encouraged to apply even if not 100% match.