FPGA / Firmware Engineer

POSITION: FPGA / Firmware Engineer
LOCATION: Grand Rapids, MI 49512 (Onsite, Monday – Friday, 9/80 schedules – Every other Friday off)
COMPENSATION: $160,000 base salary + 7% incentive bonus
BENEFITS: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability & Life Insurance, FSA, HSA, PTO, Parental Leave, 401(k), Tuition/Education Assistance, EAP

REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
3-5+ years of FPGA or firmware development experience.
Strong VHDL and/or Verilog RTL coding experience.
Experience designing FPGA interfaces and working with I/O systems.
Hands-on experience with Xilinx or Microchip FPGAs and associated toolchains (Vivado, ISE, Libero).
Experience with simulation tools (Active-HDL, QuestaSim, etc.).
Familiarity with requirements-based verification processes.
Understanding of DO-254 or similar structured/certification-driven development environments.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field.

NICE-TO-HAVE (NOT REQUIRED)
Experience with DO-254 documentation (HRD, HDD, HCI, PHAC, etc.).
Exposure to MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering).
Experience integrating with RTOS environments.
Background in RF systems or FPGA-based signal processing (L-Band or similar).
Familiarity with DO-160 and/or DO-178 standards.

SUMMARY & RESPONSIBILITIES
An aerospace organization in Grand Rapids is looking for an FPGA / Firmware Engineer to support the redevelopment of a flagship product. This is a hands-on role focused on VHDL development, FPGA integration, and interface control within aircraft systems. You’ll be working alongside a highly experienced team, including a technical lead driving architecture and a senior engineer leading DO-254 certification efforts. This is a strong opportunity to work across the full FPGA development lifecycle in a certification-driven aerospace environment.

Responsibilities Include:
Developing VHDL code for FPGA-based systems supporting aerospace applications.
Designing and implementing FPGA interfaces, including ADC/DAC integration and I/O control.
Supporting communication between FPGA and aircraft subsystems.
Working with Xilinx and Microchip FPGA platforms using tools like Vivado, ISE, and Libero.
Running simulations and validation using Active-HDL and/or QuestaSim.
Participating in requirements-based verification and structured development processes.
Creating and maintaining documentation required for DO-254 certification.

First 90 Days – What Success Looks Like:
Jump quickly into active development work, contributing to VHDL coding and FPGA interface design.
Get up to speed on system architecture and begin owning portions of the design.
Produce documentation aligned to DO-254 standards and demonstrate process-driven development.
Integrate into the team’s workflow while learning from senior engineering leadership.

Why This Role Stands Out:
Work on a high-visibility, flagship aerospace product.
Strong mentorship from senior FPGA and certification experts.
Exposure to DO-254 processes (valuable niche experience).
Consistent 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off.

Compensation:
$160,000 per year, starting base salary

Exact compensation may vary based on several factors, including skills, experience, and education.

Benefits include:
-Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability insurance
-401(k) program with 6% match
-Parental Leave
-Tuition/Education assistance
-PTO
-HSA, FSA
-Employee Assistance Program
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