FPGA / ASIC Design Engineer

MITRE's Electronic Systems Development department is seeking to hire talented engineers starting 2027 with a background in Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and/or Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design to support advanced research and development projects of national significance. Qualified candidates will join a multi-disciplinary team to help support the design and implementation of proof-of-concept prototype systems on embedded hardware platforms. Our diverse set of sponsors and research objectives provide a wide variety of interesting work opportunities such as: • Real-time communication and sensor systems leveraging cutting-edge ASIC design, FPGA technology, and Software-Defined Radio (SDR) platforms • Advanced architectures for high throughput signal processing algorithms • Tightly integrated, custom platforms targeting low size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) applications • Cross-disciplinary teams of similarly bright and motivated engineers on projects of national importance Roles & Responsibilities: Our team specializes in rapid prototyping of advanced sensor, communication, and navigation systems on state-of-the-art embedded system platforms. This position provides an exciting opportunity to work on the following: • Component development across FPGA and ASIC technologies • Implementation of algorithms in SW/HW on embedded systems • Development, integration, and testing of custom prototypes in the lab Basic Qualifications: We are interested in highly motivated candidates with a wide variety of skills, insatiable curiosity, enthusiasm, and the ability and interest to dig deep on challenging technical problems. Minimum qualifications include: • Typically requires a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 2 years of related experience; or an advanced degree with relevant experience who can immediately contribute at this job step; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience. • Solid understanding of digital system design at the Boolean logic level • Solid understanding of basic circuits and electronic principles • Experience with programming and a working knowledge of one or more Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) such as VHDL, Verilog, or System Verilog • Experience with FPGA or ASIC simulation, synthesis, and implementation tools • Exposure to programming languages such as C/C++ and Python • Familiarity with scripting languages and build tools (TCL, Python, CMake) • Fundamental understanding of microelectronic circuits and transistors • Experience in ASIC or FPGA EDA tools including synthesis, timing closure, place & route, and emulation techniques • Strong oral and written communication skills • Applicants selected for this position will be subject to a US government security investigation. • Candidates must meet requirements to support project work on-site in our labs and classified facilities on the Bedford, MA Campus • Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance. • This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site at our Bedford, MA facility. Preferred Qualifications: • Master's degree in electrical and/or Computer Engineering or similar field • Exposure to cutting-edge, reconfigurable SoC platforms (e.g., AMD Xilinx MPSoC, AMD Xilinx RFSoC, AMD Xilinx Versal, Intel Agilex SoC) • Familiarity with all phases of digital design, including architecture, implementation, verification, test, documentation, and version control • Exposure to leading edge process nodes and foundries including GlobalFoundries, Intel, and TSMC • Solid understanding of processor interface techniques such as memory mapped peripherals and interrupts • Experience deploying designs on FPGA or SDR platforms, from RTL, through simulation, synthesis, lab bring-up and debug • Basic understanding of signal processing concepts and exposure to MATLAB • Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning concepts This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s): None This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s): Secret Salary compensation range and midpoint: $103,600 - $129,500 - $155,400 Annual Work Location Type: Onsite It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.