FPGA Firmware - Flight Systems and Avionics, Onsite

About Sandia:

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide

• Extraordinary co-workers

• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world

• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities

• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)

• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

Join a dynamic and skilled team dedicated to addressing critical national security challenges. If you are passionate about advanced computer systems, software, firmware, or avionics testing, we invite you to explore this opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Department 5325, Flight Systems and Avionics, is seeking an experienced FPGA Firmware Engineer to enhance our diverse engineering team. This position is ideal for individuals eager to design, develop, and create advanced test systems and techniques. Our Test Engineers aim to evolve current test architectures and integrate new technologies to improve our testing capabilities, which are utilized by various organizations across the lab to meet environmental test requirements.

We are looking for a highly skilled FPGA Firmware Engineer with a strong background in FPGA design and development, and a proven track record of delivering high-quality firmware solutions for complex systems. This role involves leading FPGA projects, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and mentoring junior engineers to drive innovation and excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and implement FPGA firmware for avionics components, testers, and systems.

• Lead the architecture and design of FPGA solutions, ensuring they meet performance, power, timing, and resource utilization requirements.

• Collaborate with hardware engineers to define system specifications and integrate firmware with hardware components.

• Write, simulate, and test VHDL/Verilog code for robust and efficient implementations.

• Debug and optimize FPGA firmware performance using the Xilinx toolchain.

• Mentor junior engineers, fostering a culture of learning and collaboration.

• Document design processes, test plans, and technical specifications to ensure compliance with industry standards.

• Stay updated on advancements in FPGA technology and digital design methodologies.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Relocation will be provided for those that qualify.

Salary Range:

$114,000 - $227,500

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

Qualifications We Require:

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Security Clearance.

Qualifications We Desire:

The ideal R&D Computer Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Computer Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).

• Demonstrated ability to execute and deliver technical work products with application of appropriate rigor and pedigree documentation (design/code reviews, technical oversight/approvals, project team concurrence, artifact generation, etc.).

• Experience in computer systems design and software development for real-time and embedded processing systems, distributed processing systems, or real-time client server implementations.

• Familiarity with hardware/software requirements generation for verification, validation and qualification.

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multidisciplinary, multi-disciplinary team setting for a common purpose.

• Active DOE Q or DOD TS security clearance.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• 5+ years of experience in FPGA firmware development, with a strong portfolio of completed projects.

• Proficiency in hardware description languages (VHDL/Verilog) and FPGA development tools (e.g., Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus).

• Experience with digital signal processing (DSP) techniques and implementations on FPGA platforms is a plus.

• Strong understanding of embedded systems and real-time processing.

• Experience with software development in C/C++ or Python.

• Familiarity with communication protocols (e.g., SPI, I2C, UART).

• Knowledge of version control systems (e.g., Git) and agile development methodologies.

• Experience with system-level design and integration.

About Our Team:

The Flight Systems and Avionics (5325) Department at Sandia supports the development and delivery of critical innovative computing solutions for Navigation/Pointing/Control Systems, Specialized Radars & Hypersonic systems. Our department specializes in reconfigurable modular digital signal processing systems utilizing leading edge FPGA technology and general-purpose microprocessors. The department also specializes in the design, development, and rigorous testing of novel Digital Electronics for Hyper Sonics Systems, Inertial Navigations Systems, and Synthetic Aperture RADARs (SAR). Some of the work areas include inertial navigation, inertial measurement unit (IMU) integration and test, Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver integration & test, hypersonic vehicle Guidance Navigation Control algorithm implementation, and HWIL simulators.

Posting Duration:

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Security Clearance:

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

EEO:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs:

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

Job ID: 695186

Job Family: RD

Regular/Temporary Position: R

Full/Part-Time Status: F