Senior FPGA Technical Lead

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. Ability to quickly come up to speed on an existing design, identify issues, and contribute solutions within a short-term project environment. Experience in the adoption and/or integration of emerging technologies (e.g., generative AI, automation platforms, digital assistants) into day-to-day operations for continuous improvement. The QDSS Advantage: At QDSS, our advantage is purpose-driven work, collaborative teams, and complex challenges that push boundaries and build lasting impact. You’ll grow your career while contributing to mission-critical programs that demand excellence and shape the future. What You’ll Find Here Work That Matters – Next-generation, safety- and mission-critical projects where your contributions have real-world impact. Growth That’s Supported – Competitive compensation, employer-matched 401(k), certification assistance, and clear opportunities for advancement. A Culture That Works – A flexible, collaborative, and people-first environment where teamwork, innovation, and balance are valued. Benefits Include Competitive pay, comprehensive medical/dental/life and disability coverage, 401(k) with employer match, professional development support, and a flexible, friendly workplace. Abstract and consolidate core functions into reusable libraries and frameworks Extract existing functionality from application code and refactor for shared use Design and implement an I/O framework supporting multiple protocols and data interfaces Define and maintain data dictionaries and I/O level specifications Collaborate with system architects to ensure ARINC-653 partitioning integrity Support certification activities through HLR/LLR documentation and DAL compliance Contribute to long-term strategy for scalable, maintainable software infrastructure Required Qualifications: 4+ years of experience in embedded software development and/or testing. Proven expertise in C++ and object-oriented design for embedded systems Working knowledge of I/O architecture, protocol handling, and data management Background in developing certifiable software (DO-178 DAL A preferred) Proficiency in HLR/LLR generation, review, and traceability Quick learner with strong initiative and drive Desired Skills: Strong experience with ARINC-653 partitioning and low-level application design Hands-on experience with VxWorks RTOS Familiarity with toolchains and CI/CD environments supporting configuration management and verification (Atlassian Suite, Jama, Coverity, Rapita, etc) Designed and implemented non-volatile data storage systems (e.g., EEPROM, flash, or NVRAM) for configuration or state retention Experience with persistent and transient log storage, including rollover and data retention policies Familiarity with log transport mechanisms (e.g., shared memory, I/O channels, or network-based telemetry) Experience developing or integrating ARINC 661 Cockpit Display Systems (CDS) and User Applications (UA) Familiarity with avionics data buses and communication protocols (e.g., ARINC-429, MIL-STD-1553, AFDX, CAN, SPI, UART, etc) Strategic systems thinker able to plan scalable, reusable frameworks Previous FMS Experience is a bonus but not required. Ideal Candidate: Technically strong software engineer who can balance deep systems knowledge with strategic foresight. One who understands how to design reusable building blocks for complex, safety-critical systems—and thrives in a fast-moving environment where architecture, certification, and execution come together. The QDSS Advantage: At QDSS, our advantage is purpose-driven work, collaborative teams, and complex challenges that push boundaries and build lasting impact. You’ll grow your career while contributing to mission-critical programs that demand excellence and shape the future. What You’ll Find Here Work That Matters – Next-generation, safety- and mission-critical projects where your contributions have real-world impact. Growth That’s Supported – Competitive compensation, employer-matched 401(k), certification assistance, and clear opportunities for advancement. A Culture That Works – A flexible, collaborative, and people-first environment where teamwork, innovation, and balance are valued. Benefits Include Competitive pay, comprehensive medical/dental/life and disability coverage, 401(k) with employer match, professional development support, and a flexible, friendly workplace. Full compensation package is based on candidate experience and certifications Pay Ranges $80 — $90 USD At Quest Defense Systems and Solutions , we don’t just build technology — we engineer the future. From next-generation aerospace solutions to cutting-edge defense systems, we tackle the toughest, mission-critical challenges that keep people safe and push the boundaries of innovation. This is where problem-solvers, innovators, and visionary thinkers come together to shape the future. With over 25 years of aerospace and defense engineering expertise, our commitment to delivering high-quality, transformative solutions sets us apart — not just as an industry leader, but as a driving force for impactful change. Together, we’re not just leading the industry — we’re revolutionizing it. Quest Defense provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.