Senior / Principal Firmware Engineer

Luton
8 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Senior / Principal Modelling & Simulation Engineer

Senior Structural and Mechanical Systems Engineer

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Principal Engineer, Data Platforms

Electronics Engineer

Senior Space Systems Engineer

Senior / Principal Firmware Engineer

Our client, a global leader in the Defence Industry is looking for a Senior / Principal Firmware Engineer working on avionics systems.

Role Overview:

The Senior / Principal firmware engineer would be responsible for design and development of Firmware designs using VHDL and verifying designs using VHDL or System Verilog.

Job Responsibilities:

The firmware engineer would work closely with Systems, Hardware and Software teams to provide firmware solutions and solve integration problems on complex systems.

Creating innovative and robust VHDL-based designs
Documenting and recording deliverables
Verifying firmware designs
Ensuring configuration management/keeping designs under revision control
Providing progress reports 

Skills, Qualifications and Experience required:

Mandatory

Proven expertise of developing firmware using VHDL or Verilog
Experienced with Mentor Graphics FPGA development tools including HDL Designer, ModelSim / Questa and Precision
Familiar with Xilinx / Intel (Altera) / Microsemi (Actel) design flows (ISE, Vivado, Quartus) and third-party synthesis tools
Experience in specifying timing and area constraints for efficient FPGA Place and Route.
Ability to analyse system and / or hardware level requirements and derive detailed Firmware requirements
Independent verification using VHDL
Experience of firmware requirements capture and requirements management tools
De-bugging firmware designs and supporting integration & verification at hardware
and system level
A good understanding of firmware version control and revision control software
Experience of making technical decisions and mitigating technical risk for Firmware design activities.
Experience with High-Speed Serial protocols and implementations
Ability to coordinate day to day technical activities, liaising closely with the Project Engineering Lead / Lead firmware engineer & other disciplines
Excellent communication (oral & written) & interpersonal skills
Linux and scripting experience
Experience in writing technical reports/ documentationDesirable

Development of real-time, embedded, safety-critical firmware, preferably in accordance with RTCA/DO-254 DAL D
Independent verification using SystemVerilog / UVM
Relevant experience in the Aerospace or Defence industry
Experience of embedded processor cores (e.g. ARM) in FPGA designs
Familiarity with latest FPGA device families 

Qualifications

Honours degree or equivalent in Electronics Engineering or another STEM-based subjectThis role could be based in Luton or Edinburgh

Due to security requirements this role is open to SOLE UK NATIONALS ONLY

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

New Space Employers to Watch in 2026: UK and Global Organisations Driving the Future of Space Careers

The space industry is entering a new era of growth, innovation, and commercial opportunity. Satellites, space exploration, Earth observation, space data analytics, launch systems and space infrastructure are all areas seeing rapid expansion, bringing demand for engineers, scientists, operations specialists and software developers. For professionals exploring opportunities on www.UKSpaceJobs.co.uk , identifying employers that are scaling, securing major contracts, attracting investment, or establishing UK operations is vital. This article highlights the most exciting space employers to watch in 2026, including UK space start‑ups, established aerospace organisations with UK teams, and global firms investing in British space talent.

How Many Space Industry Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a UK Space Job?

If you’re pursuing a career in the space industry — whether that’s spacecraft engineering, mission operations, space software, satellite systems, ground segment integration or space data analytics — it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tools, platforms and technologies mentioned in job adverts. One role wants experience with CAD and FEA software. Another asks for experience with GNSS simulation. A third mentions mission scheduling tools, RF link analysis suites, Python, C++, continuous integration — and it seems there’s always another acronym to learn. With so much listed, many candidates fall into the trap of thinking they must master every tool under the sun before they’ll be taken seriously. Here’s the honest truth most UK space hiring managers won’t say out loud: 👉 They don’t hire you because you’ve heard of every tool — they hire you because you can apply the right tools to solve real space problems, explain your reasoning clearly, and deliver results. Tools matter, but they always serve a purpose: achieving mission goals, improving reliability, reducing risk, delivering data, or enabling collaboration. Tools are enablers — not trophies. So how many tools do you actually need to know to get a space job? The answer is much fewer and far more strategic than you might think. This article breaks down: what tools employers really expect which ones are core across most space roles which ones are role-specific how to present your tool proficiency on your CV and in interviews

What Hiring Managers Look for First in Space Sector Job Applications (UK Guide)

The space industry is one of the most exciting and multidisciplinary sectors in technology and engineering today. Whether you’re applying for roles in spacecraft design, aerospace systems, robotics, satellite communications, mission operations, payload engineering, space software, ground systems, or scientific research, your application must quickly show hiring managers that you are relevant, technically credible and ready to deliver. In the UK space jobs market — spanning organisations from startups to defence primes, agencies, research labs and commercial constellations — hiring managers do not read every word of your CV. They scan applications rapidly, often making a judgement about whether to read further within the first 10–20 seconds. This guide breaks down exactly what hiring managers look for first in space sector applications, how they assess CVs and portfolios, why specific signals matter, and how you can position your experience to stand out on www.ukspacejobs.co.uk .