FPGA Design Engineer

Engineers are the reason we exist—they’re the core of who we are. Embark on a journey with EXB Solutions at the forefront of technological innovation as we seek talented Engineers to shape the future of cutting-edge projects and contribute to a culture of excellence and creativity.  What we do matters.   

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions is seeking an FPGA Design Engineer to support the development of safety-critical digital systems for aerospace applications. This role will involve VHDL design, simulation, synthesis, place and route support, timing analysis, troubleshooting, and the development of DO-254 related documentation.

The selected engineer will contribute to requirements-based FPGA design activities, including design specifications, requirements updates, traceability documentation, design descriptions, and verification support. This is a highly collaborative role, but it also requires someone who is self-motivated, proactive, and able to work through technical challenges independently.

This opportunity is remote with travel up to 20% as needed to Cedar Rapids, IA. The project is expected to run approximately 5 months with the possibility of extension. U.S. citizenship or U.S. Permanent Resident is required.

This is a temporary hourly position with the potential for extension or conversion to a regular full-time salaried position based on business needs, performance, and available opportunities. Conversion is not guaranteed.

Key Responsibilities:   

• Develop and support FPGA designs using VHDL for safety-critical aerospace applications.
• Implement and modify RTL designs supporting communication protocols, memory interfaces, data management, processor interfaces, and related digital functions.
• Perform FPGA design activities including simulation, synthesis, place and route support, timing closure, pin-out definition, and design constraint development.
• Troubleshoot RTL design issues using simulation environments, debug tools, and structured root cause analysis.
• Support I/O timing analysis and resolve timing-related design challenges.
• Develop and maintain DO-254 related documentation, including requirements, design descriptions, design specifications, traceability documentation, and supporting verification artifacts.
• Collaborate with systems, hardware, verification, and project engineering teams to ensure design intent, requirements, and implementation remain aligned.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of relevant FPGA design experience in aerospace, defense, avionics, or another safety-critical engineering environment.
• Strong hands-on experience developing FPGA designs using VHDL.
• Experience with RTL design, simulation, synthesis, implementation, place and route, and timing closure.
• Ability to implement and support FPGA functions related to communication protocols, memory interfaces, data management, processor interfaces, or similar digital design applications.
• Experience developing and applying FPGA design constraints, pin-out assignments, routing considerations, and I/O timing analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot RTL design flaws using simulation environments and structured debug/root cause analysis methods.
• Working knowledge of digital systems, FPGA design methodologies, testing practices, and hardware/software or system-level integration.
• Prior experience working within a DO-254 development environment.
• Experience developing or supporting DO-254 documentation, including requirements, design descriptions, design specifications, and traceability documentation.
• Familiarity with requirements-based design practices in safety-critical or regulated development environments.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience developing FPGA designs for avionics, aerospace, defense, or other safety-critical applications.
• Familiarity with DAL-A design practices, certification expectations, and requirements-based design methodology.
• Working knowledge of FAA AC 20-152A guidance or similar safety-critical compliance standards.
• Experience supporting design reviews, documentation audits, or certification-related engineering activities.
• Experience with FPGA design for communication protocols, memory interfaces, processor interfaces, or data management functions.
• Strong understanding of timing closure, I/O timing analysis, design constraints, and FPGA implementation challenges.
• Experience collaborating with distributed or remote engineering teams.