Principal Firmware Engineer Level 6

Contract Firmware Engineer (FPGA) – Luton - 1756

Location: Luton (90% onsite)
Rate: £84.81/hour Umbrella
Duration: 12 months

We seek an engineer with recent high-integrity or safety-critical industry experience (defence, aerospace, or similar), or eligible for UK security clearance.

Overview

An opportunity for an experienced Firmware Engineer to support the development of complex FPGA-based digital systems within a multidisciplinary engineering team. The role involves designing, implementing and verifying firmware solutions for high-performance, safety-critical applications.

Key Responsibilities

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• Design, develop and verify FPGA firmware for complex digital systems.
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• Derive firmware requirements and architectures from system-level requirements.
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• Develop RTL using Verilog/SystemVerilog and verify designs using UVM.
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• Work with FPGA toolchains including Xilinx and Intel (Altera) devices.
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• Develop high-speed interface solutions (e.g. PCIe, Ethernet, JESD).
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• Support model-based development using MATLAB/Simulink where appropriate.
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• Collaborate closely with hardware, systems and software engineers.
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• Contribute to design reviews, testing and documentation throughout the development lifecycle.
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Essential Skills & Experience

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• Strong FPGA development experience across major FPGA families.
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• Proficiency with Xilinx tools, TCL, Verilog, SystemVerilog and UVM.
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• Experience with Xilinx 7 Series, UltraScale, Intel (Altera) or Microsemi FPGA architectures.
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• Knowledge of high-speed interfaces such as PCIe, Ethernet and JESD.
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• Experience deriving firmware architectures from system requirements.
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• Familiarity with structured firmware development processes (e.g. DO-254 or equivalent).
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• Understanding of electronics test methods and laboratory equipment.
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• Strong communication skills and experience working within multidisciplinary teams.
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Desirable Skills

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• Model-based design using MATLAB/Simulink.
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• Knowledge of cryptography and anti-tamper techniques.
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• Experience applying AI/ML concepts within embedded or firmware environments.
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