Defense and Space Manufacturing

Electrical Engineer - FPGA Firmware

Jacksonville, FLOnsiteFull TimePosted 29 days ago

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Required skills

FPGA
Firmware
VHDL
Verilog
control loops
signal processing
simulation
verification
hardware-in-the-loop
test plans

Nice to have

UVM
SystemVerilog
OSVVM
UVVM
cocotb
Python

Role summary

Star Catcher is seeking an Electrical Engineer specializing in FPGA Firmware to join their team in Jacksonville, Florida. This role is crucial for developing the technology behind the first energy grid in space, powering orbital spacecraft. The engineer will design and verify FPGA gateware using VHDL/Verilog, implement and validate algorithms, and support testing and analysis. The position requires a Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering and 5+ years of experience in FPGA gateware design and verification, including familiarity with design toolchains and simulation tools. Experience with verification frameworks, real-time control loops, and space-qualified platforms is desired.

Power the future of Space at Star Catcher

Star Catcher is building the first energy grid in space to power the orbital economy.

Today’s spacecraft must generate all of their own power, which caps what they can do and how long they can operate. But what if they could “plug” into a grid, the way buildings do on Earth? Instead of cables and outlets, Star Catcher is building the technology to wirelessly beam energy to spacecraft’s existing solar panels when and where they need it.Be an early member of a team building an entirely new energy infrastructure at scale to power the next frontier.

Star Catcher Industries, Inc., located in Jacksonville, Florida, has an opportunity for an Electrical Engineer - FPGA Firmware to support the development of space-to-space power beaming spacecraft and the Star Catcher Network, its orbital power grid.

Key Responsibilities

Design and verify FPGA gateware (VHDL/Verilog) for control loops and signal processing under established architecture.

Utilize, implement, and validate algorithms in FPGAs and firmware.

Support simulation, verification, and hardware-in-the-loop testing of FPGA designs.

Assist in development of high-level and detailed verification test plans consistent with system requirements and specifications.

Perform detailed analysis including requirements analysis, component synthesis, timing, and clock domain crossings.

Prepare and participate in design and implementation reviews.

Collaborate with digital hardware and embedded software engineers on interface definition.

Support qualification of FPGA/SoC platforms for flight applications.

Basic Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Experience: 5+ years of experience designing and verifying FPGA gateware in VHDL or Verilog.

Familiarity with FPGA/SoC design toolchains, including synthesis, place-and-route, and timing closure.

Working knowledge of logic simulation tools (e.g., ModelSim/Questa or equivalent), with experience developing self-checking testbenches, assertions/checkers, and automated regression tests.

Experience using Git or equivalent version control for RTL, constraints, testbenches, and reproducible build configurations.

Desired Skills

Experience with a verification framework appropriate to the design language, such as UVM (SystemVerilog), OSVVM/UVVM (VHDL), or cocotb (Python); equivalent structured verification experience is welcome.

Exposure to implementing real-time control loops in reconfigurable logic.

Familiarity with radiation-tolerant or space-qualified FPGA/SoC platforms.

Experience with DSP or signal-processing in FPGA fabric.

Exposure to spacecraft communications protocols (CCSDS) such as AOS, EPP, TM/TC, SPP.

Experience with signal processing for RF communications systems, including communication system signal processing theory and waveform design.

Exposure to standard streaming and memory-mapped interfaces (e.g., AMBA AXI, Avalon).

Exposure to digital hardware interfaces and architectures, including NAND/NOR/DDR memory interfaces, GigE/10GigE, high-speed SERDES, and LVDS/RS-422/I2C/SPI.

MATLAB/Simulink experience is a plus.

Working knowledge of manufacturing, assembly, and test processes.

Help us deploy and scale space infrastructure that will drive our utilization of space forward! We offer a highly competitive benefits package including access to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, and paid parental leave, in addition to other benefits.

Star Catcher is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Star Catcher is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

All offers of employment at Star Catcher are contingent upon results of a thorough background check and your ability to provide proof of eligibility to work in the US.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

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