FPGA Engineer Seen this week

Xona Space · Burlingame, California · Electronics · first seen 2026-07-16

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar - the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit - Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

We’re seeking an FPGA Engineer to design and implement high-performance, signal-processing solutions for next-generation LEO PNT satellite systems. You will focus on implementing advanced DSP and communications algorithms into efficient, resource-optimized RTL, collaborating across systems, RF, and software teams to deliver flight-ready hardware.

What You’ll Do:

Authoring RTL: Implement acquisition, tracking, data decoding, synchronization, and measurement-processing algorithms in FPGAs (VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog).

DSP Fixed-Point Design: Convert floating-point models into fixed-point micro-architecture; perform quantization analysis and optimize for performance and resource utilization.

FPGA Optimization: Optimize designs for timing closure, latency, power, and resource efficiency (DSP slices, BRAM, LUTs).

Verification & CI/CD: Develop testbenches, simulation toolchains (ModelSim or similar), and validate against Python/C++ reference models.

SW Integration: Support hardware bring-up, debugging, SW integration and performance validation in the lab and within HIL environments.

Documentation: Document RTL architecture, design trade-offs, verification results, and performance metrics.

Required Qualifications:

MS or BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field; 3+ years of FPGA development experience.

Strong understanding of DSP fundamentals (filters, synchronization, FFT, NCOs, correlators).

Proficiency in VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog and FPGA toolchains (Xilinx/AMD).

Experience with fixed-point modeling and bit-accurate verification.

Good degree of comfort with simulation tools and scripting (Python, TCL, bash, or similar).

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with satellite communications and GNSS.

Solid fundamentals in high-speed digital logic design and timing closure techniques.

Experience with lab validation, test automation, and hardware debugging tools
Experience in ARM-based MPSoC systems (Cortex-A/R), with experience developing Embedded Linux (PetaLinux/Yocto) and device drivers specifically for Zynq UltraScale+ environments.

Key Competencies:

Strong foundation in both digital logic design and DSP with practical FPGA implementation expertise.

Execution-focused mindset with emphasis on timing closure and hardware validation.

Ability to collaborate across systems, RF, software, and navigation teams to deliver flight-ready FPGA solutions

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).