The Role
Lead FPGA firmware design and integration on AMD/Xilinx SoC and ACAP platforms. Develop custom IP cores, high-speed interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, SerDes), streaming DMA systems, and perform hardware/software integration, verification, and test-stand development for flight-ready missile defense systems.
Summary Generated by Built In
Long Wall Company was created in 2024 to accelerate missile defense technology for the U.S. and our allies. Building on the RS1 and GS0 launch systems, Long Wall develops containerized, mass-producible missile defense systems and offers rapid, low-cost flight testing. We believe that the future of global security and stability require defensive technology that is lower cost, higher performing, better tested, and more broadly distributed than is possible today. Join us.
What we look for
Mission-Driven Problem Solvers. The aerospace frontier demands ingenuity. We want Team members who approach challenges with curiosity, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and stay focused on delivering the best solution for the mission.
Total Ownership. We seek staff and engineers who take full responsibility for contributing to and delivering flight-ready work while recognizing that no one succeeds alone. The best engineers, corporate professionals, and technicians make their teammates better. Knowing that complementary skills create force multiplication and drive mission success.
FPGA Design Engineer DESCRIPTION
As a Firmware/FPGA Engineer, you will lead the design, development, and integration of FPGA-based embedded systems at Long Wall to support our launch operations and test infrastructure. You will have the opportunity to be a key member of a small team of hardware, software, and systems engineers working to develop innovative high-performance data acquisition and processing solutions that enable the rapid deployment of Long Wall launch and test systems. This individual will be responsible for FPGA firmware development from concept to production, including custom IP core design, high-speed interface implementation, hardware/software integration, and test stand FPGA development, ensuring alignment with strategic business goals. This is a role that contributes to every mission and every flight we fly as we continue to reimagine the future of missile defense systems.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Design, implement, and verify FPGA firmware for (Xilinx) AMD-based systems, including SoC and ACAP architectures
- Debug and validate firmware through hardware-in-the-loop testing and system integration
- Collaborate with hardware engineers to define FPGA I/O requirements and board-level interfaces
- Collaborate with software engineers to design CPU driver interfaces for custom IP cores
- Create and maintain technical documentation, including design specifications, timing reports, and test plans
- Contribute to architecture decisions for FPGA/embedded systems and participate in design reviews.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of hands-on FPGA development experience with AMD/Xilinx platforms
REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Expert-level knowledge of Xilinx FPGA architectures and Zynq SoC platforms
- Strong understanding of digital design principles, timing analysis, and clock domain crossing techniques
- Experience with Xilinx Vivado design suite for synthesis, implementation, and debugging
- Demonstrated ability to bring FPGA designs from concept through production
- Extensive experience with troubleshooting designs and resolving integration issues.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Proficiency in HDL languages (VHDL and/or Verilog/SystemVerilog)
- Proven experience with Vivado and Vitis toolchains, including IP integration, timing constraints, and build automation
- Experience developing custom IP cores with register interfaces, interrupt generation, and DMA engine integration
- Understanding of high-speed serial interfaces (SerDes/SERDES) and multi-gigabit transceiver architectures
- Strong knowledge of streaming video/data architectures, including buffering strategies, flow control, and memory management
- Implementation of high-speed communication protocols: PCIe (Gen 1/2/3/4/5), 1G/10G/25G Ethernet MAC/PHY layers (SGMII, RGMII, UXSGMII)
- Design and optimization of streaming DMA architectures and high-throughput data paths
- Multi-clock domain design, including proper CDC (Clock Domain Crossing) techniques and metastability mitigation
- Ability to collaborate with software engineers on hardware/software interfaces, including memory-mapped register design and interrupt architecture
- Strong debugging skills using Vivado ILA, VIO, and hardware test equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers)
- Proficiency with version control systems (Git) and CI/CD workflows for FPGA development
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Master's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or related field
- Develop high-performance data paths and interfaces, including PCIe, Ethernet, and streaming DMA systems
- Experience with Versal ACAP systems and Network-on-Chip (NoC) design requirements and profiling
- Experience with Xilinx High-Level Synthesis (HLS) for algorithm acceleration
- Experience with Versal AI Engine development and optimization
- Knowledge of AXI/AXI-Stream protocols and custom IP core development
- Experience with video processing pipelines, frame buffering, and line buffering architectures
- Understanding of driver development concepts and register-level programming interfaces
- Familiarity with embedded Linux and Xilinx PetaLinux for Zynq systems
- Experience with signal processing algorithms and DSP optimization on FPGAs
- Understanding of power optimization techniques for FPGA designs
- Python/TCL scripting for design automation and verification
- Exposure to functional verification methodologies and simulation tools (ModelSim, Vivado Simulator)
- Experience with board bring-up and hardware/software co-design
- Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test methodologies and integration
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time
- Ability to use a computer to complete assignments
- Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone and telepresence
- Ability to pick up to 12lbs
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment
ITAR Requirement
This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status (when otherwise legally authorized to work and access export-controlled data) and will not be discriminated against on the basis of such characteristics or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage applicants of all ages.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of hands-on FPGA development experience with AMD/Xilinx platforms
- Expert-level knowledge of Xilinx FPGA architectures and Zynq SoC platforms
- Proficiency in HDL languages (VHDL and/or Verilog/SystemVerilog)
- Experience with Xilinx Vivado design suite for synthesis, implementation, and debugging
- Proven experience with Vitis toolchain, IP integration, timing constraints, and build automation
- Experience developing custom IP cores with register interfaces, interrupts, and DMA integration
- Understanding and implementation experience of high-speed serial interfaces (SerDes) and multi-gigabit transceivers
- Implementation of high-speed communication protocols: PCIe (Gen1/2/3/4/5) and 1G/10G/25G Ethernet MAC/PHY
- Strong understanding of digital design principles, timing analysis, clock domain crossing, and metastability mitigation
- Experience with streaming video/data architectures, buffering, flow control, and memory management
- Strong debugging skills using Vivado ILA, VIO, and hardware test equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers)
- Proficiency with version control systems (Git) and CI/CD workflows for FPGA development
- Demonstrated ability to take FPGA designs from concept through production and resolve integration issues
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- US person status (must meet ITAR requirements)
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods, use a computer, communicate via phone/telepresence, and lift up to 12 lbs
- Master's degree in EE/CE or related field
- Experience with Versal ACAP systems, NoC design and profiling
- Experience with Xilinx High-Level Synthesis (HLS) and Versal AI Engine development
- Familiarity with embedded Linux and Xilinx PetaLinux for Zynq systems
- Python/TCL scripting for design automation and verification
- Exposure to functional verification methodologies and simulation tools (ModelSim, Vivado Simulator)
- Experience with board bring-up, hardware/software co-design, and HIL test methodologies
- Knowledge of DSP algorithms and FPGA optimization, video processing pipelines, and power optimization techniques
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The Company
What We Do
Long Wall is an American aerospace company based in Long Beach, California, that specializes in developing and manufacturing deployable launch vehicles and infrastructure for missile defense. Formerly known as ABL Space Systems, the company focuses on creating containerized, mass-producible missile defense systems and providing rapid, low-cost flight testing to enhance global security and stability through advanced defensive technology.
