FPGA Engineer (Starshield)

About the Role

FPGA Engineer on the satellite digital design team responsible for designing, developing, and testing FPGAs that support safety critical logic, sensors, cryptography, and RF/optical communications systems for SpaceX’s satellite constellation.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver highly reliable firmware for SpaceX-designed hardware.
• Work with engineers across the department to develop new products, from prototype through production and flight.
• Take ownership of firmware products, including verification testing and writing documentation.
• Follow the SpaceX flight software development process and write firmware for spaceflight.
• Collaborate with avionics, software, and platform engineers to design and validate FPGA designs.
• Engage with other SpaceX engineers to discover mission needs and code highly reliable digital designs.
• Responsible for the complete lifecycle of FPGA designs: development, testing, and support.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL.
• Xilinx SoC FPGA platforms.
• High-speed serial links, including GbE, PCI-E, or similar.
• Networking protocols and packet processing (Ethernet 802.3, IP V4/IPV6, UDP, TCP).
• DSP algorithms on FPGAs, including fixed point analysis and verification.
• Embedded systems development in C or C++, or significant experience in another software language.
• Scripting skills (bash, Perl, Python).
• Familiarity with common electronic components and ability to read circuit design schematics.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering, math, or other engineering discipline.
• OR 2+ years of professional software development experience in lieu of a degree.
• Experience working with complex digital designs.
• Experience in different stages of FPGA development: RTL design, verification, synthesis, timing analysis, lab bring up/validation.
• Experience developing high-throughput PS/PL interfaces.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed.