Principal Firmware Engineer Level 6

Contract Firmware Engineer (FPGA) – Luton - 1756Location: Luton (90% onsite) Rate: £84.81/hour Umbrella Duration: 12 monthsWe seek an engineer with recent high-integrity or safety-critical industry experience (defence, aerospace, or similar), or eligible for UK security clearance.OverviewAn 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
Design, develop and verify FPGA firmware for complex digital systems.Derive firmware requirements and architectures from system-level requirements.Develop RTL using Verilog/SystemVerilog and verify designs using UVM.Work with FPGA toolchains including Xilinx and Intel (Altera) devices.Develop high-speed interface solutions (e.g. PCIe, Ethernet, JESD).Support model-based development using MATLAB/Simulink where appropriate.Collaborate closely with hardware, systems and software engineers.Contribute to design reviews, testing and documentation throughout the development lifecycle.
Essential Skills & Experience
Strong FPGA development experience across major FPGA families.Proficiency with Xilinx tools, TCL, Verilog, SystemVerilog and UVM.Experience with Xilinx 7 Series, UltraScale, Intel (Altera) or Microsemi FPGA architectures.Knowledge of high-speed interfaces such as PCIe, Ethernet and JESD.Experience deriving firmware architectures from system requirements.Familiarity with structured firmware development processes (e.g. DO-254 or equivalent).Understanding of electronics test methods and laboratory equipment.Strong communication skills and experience working within multidisciplinary teams.
Desirable Skills
Model-based design using MATLAB/Simulink.Knowledge of cryptography and anti-tamper techniques.Experience applying AI/ML concepts within embedded or firmware environments.