FPGA Engineer

Purpose

Lincoln Electric is seeking a highly capable FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) Design Engineer to join our R&D team.  This role will focus on the architecture, design, and implementation of FPGA-based systems for embedded and high-performance applications.  The ideal candidate will have deep experience with VHDL, timing analysis and closure, and integration of FPGA logic with ARM-based processing systems via AXI and other interconnect protocols.  Familiarity with AMD (Xilinx), Intel (Altera), or Microchip (Microsemi) FPGA platforms is essential.

Duties and Responsibilities

• FPGA Architecture & Design
  • Develop and maintain VHDL-based designs for control, signal processing, and communication subsystems.
  • Architect modular and reusable IP blocks for integration into complex FPGA systems.
  • Collaborate with hardware and software engineers to define functional requirements and partition logic between hardware, firmware, and software.
• Timing Analysis & Closure
  • Perform static timing analysis and achieve timing closure across multiple clock domains.
  • Optimize designs for performance, area, and power using synthesis and place-and-route tools.
  • Debug timing violations and implement constraints using industry-standard tools.
• Processor Interfacing & System Integration
  • Design and implement AXI-based interfaces to ARM processors and other embedded subsystems.
  • Integrate FPGA logic with SoC platforms and manage data flow between programmable logic and software.
  • Support development of device drivers and firmware for FPGA-accelerated functions.

Duties and Responsibilities (Continued)

• Verification & Validation
  • Develop testbenches and simulation environments using VHDL.
  • Perform functional and formal verification of FPGA designs.
  • Support hardware bring-up and lab testing using logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and JTAG tools.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with embedded software, hardware, and systems teams to ensure seamless integration.
  • Participate in design reviews and contribute to system-level architecture decisions.
  • Document design specifications, test results, and performance metrics.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement
  • Stay current with FPGA technologies, high-level synthesis, and hardware acceleration trends.
  • Evaluate new tools, platforms, and methodologies to improve design efficiency and reliability.

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
  • Level III: 5+ years of relevant experience.
    • Works independently: receives minimal guidance.
    • May lead projects or project steps within a broader project or have accountability for ongoing activities or objectives.
  • Level IV: 8+ years of relevant experience.
    • Recognized as an expert in own area within the organization.
    • Works independently, with guidance in only the most complex situations.
• 3+ years of experience in FPGA design and development using VHDL.
• Proficiency with AMD/Xilinx, Intel/Altera, and/or Microchip/Microsemi FPGA platforms.
• Strong understanding of timing analysis, constraints, and closure techniques.
• Experience with AXI interconnects and integration with ARM-based processing systems.
• Familiarity with simulation and verification tools such as VUnit or Vivado Simulator.
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work in cross-functional teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience with high-speed interfaces (e.g. PCI, Ethernet, DDR).
• Knowledge of High-Level Synthesis tools.
• Familiarity with embedded Linux and device driver development.
• Understanding of security implications within FPGA-based embedded systems.
• Experience with FPGA-based control systems and digital signal processing.