Your space-enabled career begins here

Worker Type

Job Description

AV is seeking skilled and adaptable FPGA engineers to work as members of a multi-disciplinary team supporting m multiple technology areas. Our Space Tech division develops high-performance electromechanical, electro-optical, control, and communication systems. These solutions include digital signal processing algorithms deployed using System on Chip (SoC) or Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) in combination with General Purpose Processors (GPPs) and microcontrollers.

On any given day, the selected candidate may be asked to:

• Develop and maintain general-purpose and mission specific RTL/Firmware

• Develop and maintain firm ware for peripheral interfaces

• Analog to Digital Converters

• Digital to Analog Converters

• Serial links and communication interfaces (SpaceWire, SPI, CameraLink, 1Gb+ Ethernet, MIL-1553B)

• Develop and maintain automated FPGA firmware platform build scripts

• Deploy firmware to physical devices

• Architect and develop firmware for space electronics, including FPGAs, microcontrollers, and RTOS-based systems.

• Optimize embedded software for radiation-hardened and high-reliability environments.

• Conduct system integration, testing, and validation of firmware in simulated and real-world aerospace conditions.

• Support compliance with space industry standards (NASA, ESA, MIL-STD).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science.

• 2 years of professional experience designing using hardware description languages (VHDL or Verilog)

• Ability to obtain and maintain a US security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Some experience using Xilinx devices (Zynq, Virtex / Kintex) and toolchains (Vivado / ISE) and/or Microchip devices (RTAX / ProASIC / RTG4) and toolchains (Libero).

• Some experience doing firmware development in embedded systems, preferably for aerospace or space applications.

• Knowledge of (serial) communication protocols and standards.

• Familiarity with multiple clock-domain digital design techniques.

• Familiarity with in-system debuggers and logic analyzers.

• Familiarity with designing and managing FPGA physical constraints.

• Familiarity with Tool Command Language (TCL).

• Proven, demonstrated experience taking VHDL or Verilog designs to a hardware environment.

• Familiarity with the Xilinx SoC devices.

• Familiarity with FPGA floorplanning techniques.

• Familiarity with Xilinx System Generator.

• Familiarity with other computing languages (C/C++, Python, Java).

• Familiarity with verification techniques, including linting and constrained random testing.

• Knowledge of RTOS, bare-metal firmware, and hardware-software co-design.

• Experience working with hardware accelerators and space communication protocols.

• Familiarity with other synthesis and simulation environments (Synopsys, Aldec).

Clearance Level

The salary range for this role is:

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR