Senior FPGA Design Engineer

Perceptive Innovations, Inc. (PI2) is a young and growing small business specializing in advanced systems engineering, hardware, and software development. Perceptive Innovations develops innovative small-SWaP software-defined tactical systems for ISR, threat warning, and battlefield situation awareness. We are currently developing a state of the art digital augmented reality multispectral day/night head mounted system which will set a new standard for photon-to-photon low latency, a wideband digital SIGINT receiver, and small SWaP Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The company was founded with the purpose of developing new and innovative small-SWaP software-defined tactical systems that enable the advanced capabilities on body-worn or small unmanned sensors such as:

  • Image Processing and Sensor Fusion

  • Electronic Warfare (EW)

  • SIGINT

  • Multi-INT Heterogeneous Sensing

  • Threat Warning and Geolocation

  • Advanced Navigation and Positioning

PI2's passion is to provide sensors for the tactical operator, hand-launched UAS, unattended sensors, and enable future autonomous collaborative sensor networks. We have current programs developing advanced high-performance low-latency video processing for next-generation digital night vision augmented-reality goggles (FPGA-based), and reduced-SWaP combined synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and lidar (SAL) image formation (GPP- and FPGA-based). To support our growing contract base, we are seeking a highly talented and motivated Embedded FPGA Software Engineer to develop realtime software running on multicore linux processors inside of the latest Zynq Ultrascale+ FPGA SoC. This project will develop prototype HMD headsets integrating multiple cameras, processor, and display, with hands-on development of real time FPGA software and firmware culminating with interactive evaluation by Air Force operators.

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Successful applicant must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain a DoD Security Clearance

Responsibilities Include

Perceptive Innovations is seeking a self-starting and experienced individual to be a leader and primary contributor in FPGA signal processing development and implementation for radio frequency (RF) and optical/thermal imaging systems.

  • Design and implementation of FPGA-based digital signal processing systems

  • Development of self-checking unit/system-level test benches and simulations

  • Troubleshooting and resolving design issues

  • Preparation of detailed design documentation and required reports to the government pertaining to the FPGA designs and implementations

  • Independent time management of responsibilities, to include work planning and assignment, communication of status and code reviews, with a startup spirit and work ethic to get the job done within constrained timelines and funding

Qualifications

The position requires RTL design, simulation, and implementation experience (VHDL primary, Verilog secondary) of challenging high performance FPGA embedded signal processing engines. The following skillsets are also required:

  • Mastery of Xilinx FPGA design flows using Vivado (synthesis, place & route, etc) in both TCL scripted and GUI methodologies

  • Experience with full development cycle of FPGA design and recent Xilinx experience with UltraScale+ devices, Zynq UltraScale+ MPSOC, and the latest Versal devices.

  • Understanding of digital signal processing hardware architectures, and preferably experience with Xilinx/Avnet development boards, such as the VPK180, and FMC module interfacing.

  • Experience with FPGA IP Core integration, preferably to include DDR memory interfaces, HDMI and Display Port Video interfaces, xGigabit Ethernet, SFP+, and USB3 designs.

  • Familiarity with digital electronics hardware design

  • Linux operating systems (including embedded)

  • Strong understanding of software and hardware interaction, with experience in Xilinx SoC development with embedded multicore processors and FPGA hardware/software co-design

  • Excellent verbal and written skills to interact with design teams, management and customers

  • Other duties as assigned

  • Minimum 5 years' (10+ desired) experience working with FPGAs

The Following Skillsets Are Desired

  • Experience with SIGINT, EW, Communications, Radar, Lidar, and Image processing

  • Experience with PicoBlaze, MicroBlaze and ARM Cortex A9

  • Working knowledge of lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, signal sources, power supplies

  • Xilinx FPGAs and Vivado Tool Suite

  • Altera FPGAs and Quartus Tool Suite

  • Use of Subversion or similar tools for codebase control in team environment

  • Experience with Hardware design, PCB design, fabrication, and testing

  • Experience with OpenVPX hardware development, Vita49, and Digital Receivers/Transmitters

  • MATLAB/Simulink modeling of signal processing systems, at a minimum able to understand a high level model and convert to an FPGA implementation

  • High level language programming (C, C++), and ability to write simple embedded software modules for FPGA test purposes

  • Experience with script languages (Tcl, Python, Perl, Ruby, etc.)

  • A bachelor's degree in EE/CE/ECE is required; a master's degree is strongly preferred. Preference will be given to applicants with prior relevant experience.

  • Perceptive Innovations offers competitive pay in a relaxed and independent work environment, with a growing benefits package and an early-stage startup incentive stock options plan for qualified applicants.

  • Perceptive Innovations is an equal opportunity employer.

  • Successful applicant must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain a DoD Security Clearance