Job Title: Principal FPGA Design Engineer (Contract)
Location: UK (Hybrid – with occasional on-site requirements)
Salary: £90-£100 per hour
Shift Type: Day Shift, Monday to Friday
Benefits: Long-term programme, high-impact technical role, opportunity to influence system architecture, flexible working where project permits
The Opportunity
We are supporting a high-technology systems manufacturer operating in regulated and mission-critical environments, seeking an experienced Principal FPGA Design Engineer (Contract) to lead complex FPGA developments across multiple programmes.
This is a senior, hands-on technical role focused on translating top-level system requirements into robust FPGA architectures, delivering verified designs to hardware, and providing technical leadership across firmware teams.
Key Responsibilities
* Decompose system and product requirements into FPGA architectures and detailed design specifications
* Lead FPGA developments from concept through to verified hardware implementation
* Design, implement and debug complex VHDL-based FPGA solutions
* Develop test benches, vectors and verification strategies
* Perform system-level design and documentation to support downstream implementation
* Take ownership of multiple work packages, including scope, estimates and delivery tracking
* Support firmware releases, configuration control and technical documentation
* Provide technical mentoring, design reviews and guidance to other engineers
* Act as technical liaison with internal stakeholders, suppliers and customers
* Support hardware validation using lab equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, signal generators, etc.)
Required Experience
* 10+ years’ FPGA design experience in complex, multi-FPGA systems
* Strong background in VHDL design and verification
* Proven ability to translate high-level system requirements into implementable FPGA solutions
* Experience delivering designs to schedule within structured development environments
* Background in Radar systems, DSP or closely related high-speed signal processing applications
* Comfortable operating at system, firmware and hardware interface level
* Excellent technical documentation and communication skills
Qualifications
* Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Electronics, Engineering or a closely related discipline
Additional Information
* Occasional UK travel may be required, sometimes at short notice
* Suitable for contractors seeking long-term, technically challenging programmes with genuine architectural ownership
Pertemps Engineering Division
If you are an experienced FPGA contractor looking for your next senior-level assignment, please apply with your CV or contact the Pertemps Engineering Division on 01676938852 for a confidential discussion. We specialise in placing high-level engineering contractors into complex manufacturing and engineering environments across the UK.