Alpha Data | FPGA
Senior/Lead Firmware Engineer (AD-ENG17)
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Careers at Alpha Data
Senior/Lead Firmware Engineer
Vacancy Code: AD-ENG17
Who We Are
For over three decades, Alpha Data has empowered leading aerospace and defence (A&D) and datacentre acceleration customers with cutting-edge computing solutions. From our locations in the UK and USA, we bring the inherent cost savings and accelerated time-to-market of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products to customers around the world. Our highly skilled design team also specializes in customising these COTS solutions to meet our customer’s unique and challenging requirements, ensuring we succeed together!
The Role
Alpha Data seeks an experienced embedded software/firmware/driver engineer, looking to continue to exercise and develop their technical skills as well as lead and mentor junior staff. You will take an active role in leading design and implementation of kernel drivers, reference designs, SDK for Alpha Data products and customer project engagements.
Our products and customers utilise a large range of operating systems, interfaces, and other technologies; which makes the role both challenging and technically interesting in the breadth of knowledge required.
Principally the role is onsite, with scope for some remote working.
Responsibilities
- Development and maintenance of APIs, SDK and device drivers for Alpha Data’s range of FPGA/SoC products.
- Develop and maintain firmware for FPGAs, microcontrollers, and embedded processors.
- Design, implement, and maintain software components, including device drivers and supporting tools for customer applications.
- Debug, test, and validate software and firmware to ensure reliability and performance.
- Respond to and resolve customer support requests relating to software and firmware issues.
- Collaborate with hardware and systems engineers to ensure effective integration of software and electronic systems.
- Mentor and develop other engineers.
- Innovate and lead high-quality engineering practices.
- Contribute to code quality through documentation, code reviews, and adherence to development standards.
- Support the development of example designs and reference implementations for customers.
- Lead customer technical discussion and interactions.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Requirements
Experience
Minimum of 6 years’ experience in relevant industry roles exercising the skills specified below, and proving capability fulfilling the responsibilities listed above.
Qualifications
BSc/BEng in Electronics and Software Engineering (or higher).
or
Apprenticeship degree (SCQF Level 10/11) in related industry with experience using AMD SoC and FPGAs, and software engineering (or higher).
Any other relevant certification or courses completed in relevant technologies or skills.
Technical Skills
Essential
- AMD/Xilinx FPGAs/SoCs and Vivado Design Suite
- Software/FPGA architecture design leadership
- Understanding and practice in Clock Domain Crossing (CDC)
- VHDL and/or Verilog + Vivado IPI
- C/C++
- Embedded Linux (Yocto) or other Embedded OS application programming
- Experience in device driver programming: In Linux, Embedded Linux (Yocto), Windows, or VxWorks
- Version control (Subversion, Git, etc)
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Desirable
- FPGA timing analysis
- Java, JDK/JRE based applications
- Code Review
- Test/Verification Design
- CI/CD, (Jenkins). (automation of build and test)
- Software project management (JIRA)
- Ethernet protocol knowledge (level 1-4)
- PCIe (architecture and processor/FPGA interfacing)
- Experience with other I/O interface protocols, JESDC, Coaxpress, Camera Link, TSN, etc
Soft Skills
- Small team management & leadership
- Project management
- Excellent team communication
- Software development workflow
What We Offer
At Alpha Data, we believe in investing in our people. We offer:
- A competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Opportunities to work on cutting-edge technologies and challenging projects that make a real impact.
- A collaborative and supportive work environment with a focus on continuous learning and professional growth.
- Exposure to diverse and high-demand markets including high-performance computing, aerospace, and defence.
- The chance to be part of a company with a long-standing reputation for innovation and excellence.
How to Apply
If you are a passionate Engineer looking to make a significant contribution to world-leading technology, we encourage you to apply! Please complete our application form, which can be found here.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills