Senior FPGA Developer (SystemVerilog)

The Role 

The Senior FPGA Developer will be a member of the core team building the Quantum Key Distribution system. The focus is end‑to‑end RTL ownership on AMD/Xilinx (Artix‑7, Kintex UltraScale): architect, implement, verify, and close timing on high‑rate interfaces and deterministic pipelines. The role also sets engineering discipline for FPGA development and mentors a junior engineer. 

The Senior FPGA Developer owns the FPGA architecture/codebase and collaborates closely with embedded/software to define clean contracts, ensure reliable bring‑up, and deliver reproducible, versioned bitstreams. 

The Responsibilities 

The Senior FPGA Developer should expect to work in the following activities. 

• RTL architecture, interfaces, and rather high-speed datapaths
  • Owning SystemVerilog RTL architecture/implementation for Artix‑7 and Kintex UltraScale (SystemVerilog, Vivado)
  • Implementing DDR3/DDR4 controllers integration, PCIe endpoint/DMA, and Ethernet/SFP paths; evaluating/integrating third‑party MAC/PCS IP
  • Building deterministic acquisition/timing/sifting layers — packetization, buffering, alignment; robust clocking/CDC/reset; custom low‑level protocols —  and bridging them to high‑throughput interfaces (DDR/PCIe)
  • Defining clear AXI/AXI‑Stream boundaries and register maps for SW/FW integration 

• Constraints, timing closure, and floorplanning
  • Authoring and maintaining XDC constraints (clocks, I/O, exceptions); achieving consistent timing closure across corners
  • Applying practical floorplanning (pblocks, placement guidance) and CDC methodology; analyzing reports and iterating for margin 

• Verification and CI
  • Establishing a professional verification environment with ModelSim/Questa; developing self‑checking testbenches and regression suites; integrating Python/cocotb co‑simulation with software harnesses/mocks; defining coverage goals (OSVVM/UVM as appropriate)
  • Building CI for lint/sim/synth/impl; archiving reports/bitstreams; automating regressions (including cocotb) and basic HW‑in‑the‑loop smoke tests 

• Bring-up, debug, and releases
  • Board bring-up and debug using ILA/logic analyzers; link training, memory calib, and protocol bring-up
  • Owning bitstream packaging, versioning, and release notes; ensuring reproducible builds and traceable artifacts 

• Cross-team collaboration and mentoring
  • Driving system integration with SW/FW: register/driver contracts, throughput/latency budgets, HIL
  • Mentoring a junior engineer; codifying style guides, reviews, and design documentation 

The Requirements 

The Senior FPGA Developer is expected to have the following qualifications and experience. 

• 5+ years production FPGA on AMD/Xilinx; expert SystemVerilog RTL 

• Demonstrated mentoring of junior engineers 

• Strong constraints/timing (XDC), CDC/reset, and practical floorplanning; consistent timing closure 

• Hands‑on DDR3/DDR4, PCIe endpoints/DMA, Ethernet/SFP; integrating/evaluating third‑party MAC/PCS IP 

• Strong verification background; experience with self-checking testbenches and regression testing, proficiency with ModelSim/Questa. Knowledge of OSVVM/UVM is a plus 

• CI for HDL: scripted sim/synth/impl (Tcl/Make/Python), lint, artifact/version management; board bring‑up and ILA‑based debug 

• System integration with SW/FW: register maps, driver contracts, HIL 

• Proficiency in written and spoken English 

• Ability to be on-site in Munich or Potsdam offices to work with hardware, when required
• Applicants must have the right to work in Germany at the time of application. We do not provide visa sponsorship.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain either (a) a U.S. Secret (or higher) security clearance or (b) an EU SECRET (or national equivalent) personnel security clearance. Employment is contingent on meeting applicable government security requirements; eligibility is determined by the competent authorities.

Good to have: 

• AXI4/AXI‑Stream expertise and DMA performance tuning 

• Formal verification exposure 

• Scripting for automation (Python/Tcl) and CI systems (GitHub Actions/Jenkins) 

• MicroBlaze/Zynq ecosystems and low‑level FW/C driver collaboration 

• Proven delivery on Artix‑7 and/or Kintex UltraScale with Vivado