FPGA Engineering
FPGA Designers for Defense, Aerospace, and Semiconductor Prototyping
FPGA work in defense looks nothing like FPGA work in ASIC prototyping. We match platform, language, and domain before submitting.
What they do
Platform-Specific FPGA Design from RTL Through Bitstream
FPGA engineers at Game 7 are matched to platform (Xilinx UltraScale+, Intel Agilex, or Microsemi PolarFire), language preference (VHDL vs. SystemVerilog), and domain. Defense and aerospace programs demand rad-hard parts, VHDL, and DO-254 compliance. Semiconductor prototyping programs require partitioning a multi-billion-gate ASIC across multiple UltraScale+ devices.
We staff ASIC prototyping (Synopsys HAPS, Cadence Protium), networking DSP pipelines, real-time industrial control, and rad-tolerant space programs. As distinct engagement profiles.
Scope of work
- RTL design in VHDL and SystemVerilog for FPGA targets (Xilinx UltraScale+, Intel Agilex, Microsemi PolarFire)
- FPGA implementation: synthesis, place-and-route, and timing closure (Vivado, Quartus Prime, Libero SoC)
- High-speed interface integration: PCIe, DDR4/DDR5, 100G Ethernet, Aurora, and JESD204B/C
- Custom IP core development: AXI4/AXI-Lite bus interfaces, DMA engines, and DSP pipelines
- Hard processor integration (Xilinx Zynq, Intel SoC FPGA) with embedded Linux and bare-metal firmware
- DSP architecture for FPGA: pipelining, resource utilization, and DSP48/DSP58 optimization
- FPGA-based ASIC/SoC prototyping (Synopsys HAPS, Cadence Protium) including design partitioning
- Partial reconfiguration and radiation-tolerant design for space applications (Xilinx Virtex-5QV, Microsemi RTG4)
Tools & Technologies
The stack our FPGA engineers actually ship in.
Program context
We Match Platform and Domain to Program
FPGA engineering in defense and aerospace looks nothing like FPGA engineering in semiconductor prototyping. Defense programs demand VHDL, radiation-tolerant parts (RTG4, Virtex-5QV), DO-254 compliance, and ITAR-controlled design flows. Semiconductor prototyping programs require engineers who can partition a multi-billion-gate ASIC across multiple UltraScale+ devices, manage clock domain crossings across partition boundaries, and interface with the SoC verification team. High-performance computing and networking programs use FPGAs for algorithm acceleration, where the engineer needs a throughput-first DSP architecture mindset.
FAQ
Common Questions on FPGA Engineering Staffing
What's the difference between an FPGA engineer and a digital design (RTL) engineer?+
Both write HDL, but the target and constraints are fundamentally different. ASIC RTL engineers write code targeting a specific foundry process and optimize for PPA. Power, performance, area. FPGA engineers target a specific device fabric (LUTs, FFs, BRAMs, DSP slices, hard IP blocks) and optimize for device utilization, resource mapping, and timing closure on that specific part. FPGA engineers also handle device-specific constraints (XDC for Xilinx, SDC for Intel) and vendor IP core integration.
Can Game 7 place FPGA engineers for ASIC prototyping platforms specifically?+
Yes. FPGA prototyping. Using Synopsys HAPS, Cadence Protium, or custom multi-FPGA boards. Is a distinct subspecialty. Engineers on these programs need to understand design partitioning across multiple FPGA chips, high-speed chip-to-chip interface management, and the tradeoffs between simulation accuracy and prototype speed. This is a critical program phase for software bring-up before silicon returns from the foundry.
What industries do your FPGA engineers have experience in?+
Defense and aerospace (rad-hard, DO-254, MIL-SPEC programs), semiconductor prototyping, communications and networking (DSP pipelines, protocol offload engines), industrial automation (real-time control, EtherCAT master implementations), and medical devices. Domain experience accelerates time-to-productivity. An engineer with aerospace FPGA background adapts quickly to other high-reliability programs.
VHDL or SystemVerilog. Does the language preference matter?+
Yes, and it is often tied to domain. Defense and aerospace programs strongly prefer VHDL. It is the incumbent language for legacy code bases and many mil-spec programs. Commercial semiconductor and most other domains have largely standardized on SystemVerilog. VHDL and SystemVerilog are simulatable together in tools like Questa, but an engineer fluent in one is not necessarily fast in the other. We ask which language the existing code base uses and match to that.
Related disciplines
Cross-Links Across the Team
SystemVerilog RTL Designers with Tape-Out Experience
ASIC/SoC RTL engineers whose designs FPGA prototypes replicate.
Design Verification Engineers →UVM Architects and DV Leads with Verification Closure Experience
DV and emulation engineers who work alongside FPGA prototyping.
Embedded & Firmware Engineers →RTOS and Firmware Engineers for Connected Hardware
Firmware engineers for Zynq SoC FPGA platforms.
Let's talk
Need an FPGA Engineer?
Tell us the program. We'll send a shortlist of 2-4 qualified engineers within days.