Job Purpose:The FPGA Engineer supports advanced research and development efforts focused on next-generation quantum communication technologies. This position is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing FPGA-based hardware and firmware solutions that enable real-time quantum communications, scalable network control, and high-performance data acquisition systems. The ideal candidate possesses strong expertise in FPGA development, embedded systems, digital communications, and hardware/software integration while working collaboratively within a research and development environment.
Responsibilities: - Design, develop, and enhance FPGA-based controllers supporting real-time quantum communication systems.
- Improve existing FPGA firmware supporting classical communication protocols and optical phase stabilization.
- Develop firmware subsystems to support evolving experimental hardware configurations and system requirements.
- Design scalable data acquisition, analysis, and control architectures for quantum network nodes.
- Research, design, simulate, implement, and evaluate Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) architectures.
- Analyze FPGA resource utilization, timing performance, clock utilization, and system resolution.
- Develop and maintain PYNQ libraries that provide intuitive interfaces for FPGA-based quantum communication platforms.
- Design hardware and software interfaces between programmable logic (PL) and processing systems (PS) on FPGA and MPSoC platforms.
- Optimize firmware modules to meet strict timing, synchronization, and performance requirements.
- Develop hardware schematics, block diagrams, Verilog modules, simulation environments, and supporting technical documentation.
- Prepare monthly progress reports detailing accomplishments, project status, technical risks, and planned activities.
- Collaborate with government researchers and technical staff to support ongoing quantum networking research initiatives.
- Participate in technical meetings, workshops, and conferences as required.
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of the research program.
Education and Experience: - Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related technical discipline.
- Demonstrated experience designing and developing FPGA-based systems.
- Strong knowledge of Hardware Description Languages (HDL), including Verilog and/or VHDL.
- Experience with FPGA development platforms and associated design toolchains.
- Experience developing embedded firmware and hardware/software integrated systems.
- Strong understanding of digital communications, communication systems, and signal processing principles.
- Experience performing hardware simulations, validation, and performance analysis.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to prepare technical documentation and reports.
