Senior Firmware (FPGA) Engineer
Location: Crawley, United Kingdom
Thales is a leading provider of defence mission systems solutions across land, sea, and air, supporting armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment. Our platforms span Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.
As a Senior Firmware Engineer, you will join a proven team delivering firmware for a wide range of defence products. Typical firmware services include architecture, requirements specification, design, verification and validation, and collaboration with systems, software and hardware engineers to develop electronic systems.
The role is based at our Manor Royal site in Crawley and includes a mix of on‑site and remote work, with periods required at customer sites and/or integration facilities.
We offer opportunities for career advancement, including pathways to Firmware Architect, Firmware Engineering Manager, and recognised Thales Specialist or Expert roles. We also support professional registration, membership funding, and a comprehensive e‑Learning Engine.
Responsibilities
* Work as part of firmware teams to deliver projects to agreed time, cost, and quality.
* Verify firmware using hardware verification languages or hardware description languages.
* Design firmware using hardware description languages.
* Enhance firmware‑related processes (documentation, scripting, reporting, process automation).
* Work closely with multi‑disciplinary teams.
* Architect, specify requirements, design, verify, and validate firmware.
* Collaborate with systems, software and hardware engineers to develop electronic systems.
Qualifications and Experience
* Strong verbal and written communication skills.
* Relevant degree (BEng, MEng, EngD, PhD) in electronics.
* 5+ years of relevant experience.
* Membership or fellowship of a professional engineering body, preferably chartered status or working toward it.
Specialisation / Knowledge Areas
* Leading firmware design/architecture.
* Leading a small team of firmware engineers.
* Verification test bench architecture with System Verilog or C++.
* Verification methodology: Advanced VHDL verification or OSVVM/UVVM.
* Requirements management: IBM Rational DOORS.
* Simulation of designs using Mentor Graphics Modelsim / Questasim.
* Digital electronic design in hardware development languages: VHDL and either Verilog or System Verilog.
* Implementation of complex designs using vendor‑specific development tools.
* Technologies: PCIe, Ethernet, serial communications, AXI4.
* Object‑oriented design techniques.
* Image processing techniques and algorithms.
* Algorithm development using MATLAB.
* Linux development environments.
* Creation of firmware development plans and other design documentation.
Candidate Profile
* Team player with a "can‑do" attitude who works effectively in a multi‑disciplinary team environment and promotes inclusiveness and diversity.
* Confident problem solver who asks challenging questions, seeks to understand deeply, and suggests new ideas to enhance the product offering.
* Self‑starter who manages workload, meets agreed objectives, and contributes to broader operational goals.
Security Clearance
Due to the nature of the work at Thales, many roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK national and to hold Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. If not already held, you must achieve and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Dual nationals from a non‑ITAR country may be considered with MOD approval. Candidates must provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK, and employment/education history for up to three years.
Greater opportunities exist through Thales' mobility policy, inclusive recruitment process, and support for neuro‑diverse applicants or those with a disability or long‑term condition. Reasonable adjustments are available upon request.
Great journeys start here, apply now!
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