FPGA Hardware Design Lead

HDL Technical Lead (FPGA)

Location : Boulder, CO

Salary Range : $, $,

Overview

A fast-growing company specializing in RF technology is in need of a skilled HDL Technical Lead to offer architectural guidance and technical leadership for various FPGA development projects.

This role is tailored for a seasoned engineer who excels in leading through technical proficiency rather than formal management . It involves making system-level decisions, coordinating across programs, and engaging in hands-on engineering tasks, with around 50% of time focused on design, tooling, and solving complex problems .

You will be responsible for supporting multiple ongoing programs, assisting teams in defining architecture, enhancing design reusability, and making informed technical decisions while ensuring consistency in project execution.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the technical aspects of FPGA / HDL development for 34 concurrent programs

Establish and guide system-level architecture in alignment with program needs and long-term platform strategy

Promote the reuse of IP, architecture, and development tools to enhance efficiency and consistency

Lead design reviews, technical planning, and cross-team coordination to maintain quality and schedule

Directly contribute to :

Specialized HDL development

Tooling and automation

Complex debugging and performance optimization

Collaborate with RF, hardware, and embedded software teams to ensure successful system integration

Offer technical mentorship, design feedback, and best-practice guidance to engineers (without direct reports)

Influence verification strategy, simulation approach, documentation standards, and integration readiness

Evaluate timing closure, interface design, and architectural tradeoffs across multiple systems

Support hardware bring-up and integration within Linux-based environments

Required Qualifications

Must be a U.S. Citizen and capable of obtaining a security clearance

Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field

Professional experience in FPGA design using Verilog, VHDL, or similar

Experience in providing technical direction or owning architecture

Solid understanding of digital system design, timing analysis, and hardware interfaces

Experience with high-speed and control interfaces such as :

PCIe, SPI, I²C

AXI, Aurora, JESD

Understanding of integrating digital logic within RF or mixed-signal systems

Ability to work across programs and think at the system level

Preferred Experience

Masters degree in a related field

Proficiency in Python, C / C++, or scripting for automation and test

Experience in Linux development (user space, drivers, Yocto, or PetaLinux)

Knowledge of simulation and verification tools (Vivado, ModelSim, etc.)

Hardware exposure including board bring-up, lab debug, or schematic review

Experience with HDL modeling or generation tools

Background supporting multiple products or programs simultaneously

Work Environment & Schedule

Full-time position (40+ hours as required)

Standard weekday schedule with flexibility based on program needs

Approximately 10% travel

Professional office and lab environment with access to prototyping equipment, machine shop tools, and hardware development resources

Benefits

Four weeks of PTO annually

Flexible scheduling and hybrid work options

Tuition reimbursement

Up to 6% (k) match

Medical, dental, and vision coverage