FPGA Hardware Design Engineer

Purpose and Impact:

Our contract supports more than 12 efforts with varying levels of hardware and software development requirements.  Our projects are focused on front end equipment configuration/maintenance, back-end repositories, front end dashboards, as well as everything in between for the full data processing thread.  Our teams can range from one to two developers to a team of 12.  All of our teams work right alongside our customer to discuss requirements, identify solutions, and choose the way forward for implementation.  As part of an engineering office, our customer and our workforce look and plan for future expectations- continuously trying to stay ahead of the next challenge.

This position is for a team of three contractors that work directly with our customer on custom solutions for technical challenges identified by our field sites.

Design, develop, and test FPGA-based point solutions using industry-standard Hardware Description Language (HDL) such as VHDL, and leveraging advanced design tools.  Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements and develop architectures.  Implement complex digital logic, optimize designs for performance, power, and area, and verify designs using simulation tools. Debug and troubleshoot design issues, and document design specifications, test plans, and test results comprehensively.  Work closely with software, hardware, and system teams to ensure seamless integration and timely delivery of FPGA-based solutions.  This includes placing and routing the design, optimizing for performance and resource utilization, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure the design meets all specifications.  Additionally, maintain detailed documentation, debug hardware issues, and provide ongoing support for field systems to ensure their reliable operation and performance. 

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday: Normal schedule.  Specific start/end times can be determine by candidate and the team for best schedule needs.

Essential Responsibilities:

Design, develop, and test FPGA-based point solutions using industry-standard Hardware Description Language (HDL) such as VHDL, and leveraging advanced design tools.  Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements and develop architectures.  Implement complex digital logic, optimize designs for performance, power, and area, and verify designs using simulation tools. Debug and troubleshoot design issues, and document design specifications, test plans, and test results comprehensively.  Work closely with software, hardware, and system teams to ensure seamless integration and timely delivery of FPGA-based solutions.  This includes placing and routing the design, optimizing for performance and resource utilization, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure the design meets all specifications.  Additionally, maintain detailed documentation, debug hardware issues, and provide ongoing support for field systems to ensure their reliable operation and performance. 

Capabilities:

• Assist with designing new products and processes and improving and maintaining existing products.

• Conduct design analysis on components and/or assemblies to assist in the development process by ensuring designs are cost efficient, able to be manufactured, and reliable.

• Communicate with the other engineering personnel to coordinate the interrelated design and assure project completion.

• Apply ASIC or FPGA place and route  (P&R) tools with various libraries to create physical implementations of designs

• Develop and maintain documentation for the P&R design flows

• Assist with de-processing electronic components and retrieving stored firmware or software using approved reverse engineering procedures

• Design new products and processes and improving and maintaining existing products

• Integrate new P&R tools, P&R tool updates, and ASIC or FPGA design libraries into Government’s computer aided design environment, documents the use of those tools and libraries, and Assist other physical designers to successfully complete their specific P&R design tasks.

• Work with tool and library vendors to develop solutions for designers’ P&R design challenges

• Perform the de-processing of electronic components and retrieving stored firmware or software using approved reverse engineering procedures and develops improved procedures

• Lead the designs of new products and processes and improve and maintain existing products

• Provide technical leadership to less experienced engineers

• Direct and check the work of other hardware design engineers

• Act as internal consultant providing technical guidance on most complex projects

• Oversee the de-processing of electronic components and retrieving stored firmware or software using approved reverse engineering procedures

• Develop novel procedures for reverse engineering of new component types.

 

Minimum Requirements (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

• 12 years of experience as a HDE in integrated circuit or microelectronic component design or reverse engineering of the same is required.

• 10 years : Programming in VHDL

• 8 Years : Programming in Xilinx FPGAs- any combination of VIRTEX-II Pro, VIRTEX-4, VIRTEX-5 or VIRTEX 6

• 5 Years: Programming on Linux platforms

• 5 years: Experience with XILINX ISE, Synplify Pro, and Modeltechs Modelsim

• 8 years at 50%: Experience writing pin-level VHDL and clocking constraint files

• 1 year: Programming in one or more of the following scripting languages: PERL, sh, bash, or python

• 5 Years: Using linux or Unix for day-to-day activities.

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Clearance Required:

• TS/SCI with Poly

Minimum Education:

• Bachelors Degree in Electical Engineering or Computer Engineering or related technical disciple from an accredited college or university is required. 

Minimum Years of Experience:

• Twelve (12) years of experience is required.  Five additional years of experience are required if the candidate does not have a Bachelors degree in a technical field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience writing Interface Control Documents (ICDs)

• Experience with Microsoft office Tools (word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Three or more years of experience using one or more of the following revision control applications: git, Subversion (SVN), CVS, ClearCase One or more years of experience generating and documenting design specifications of system-level components in a UML-based tool (e.g. Confluence/Gliffy)

• Two or more years of experience with test-driven development

 

#javelin

As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and compliant work environment, Amentum is a drug-free workplace and requires all personnel to comply with company drug and alcohol policies as a condition of employment.  Employment is contingent upon successful completion of the drug screening process.  Please note that this may include pre-hire screening for marijuana, as well as other federally controlled substances due to Amentum’s role as a federal contractor and trusted partner to the US Government.  

Other Responsibilities:

Safety - Amentum enforces a safety culture whereby all employees have the responsibility for continuously developing and maintaining a safe work environment. As appropriate, each employee is responsible for completing all training requirements and fulfilling all self-aid/buddy aid responsibilities, participating in emergency response tasks and serving on safety committees and teams.

Quality - Quality is the foundation for the management of our business and the keystone to our goal of customer satisfaction. It is our policy to consistently provide services that meet customer expectations. Accordingly, each employee must conform to the Amentum Quality Policy and carry out job activities in compliance with applicable Amentum Quality System documents and customer contracts. Each employee must read and understand his/her Quality Management and Customer Satisfaction responsibilities.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

Procedure Compliance - Each employee must read, understand and implement the general and specific operational, safety, quality and environmental requirements of all plans, procedures and policies pertaining to his/her job.

Compensation Details:

$260,000 - $340,000

The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good-faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.

Benefits Overview:

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Paid time off and holidays

• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)

• Educational reimbursement

• Parental leave

• Employee stock purchase plan

• Tax-saving options

• Disability and life insurance

• Pet insurance

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.

Original Posting:

10/27/2026 - Until Filled

Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed,  marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.