Hardware/Firmware Engineer (FPGA)

At Metis Aerospace, we design and build advanced hardware and software systems that deliver real-world insight from complex data. As our products continue to evolve, we are looking for an experienced FPGA engineer who can take ownership of the firmware that drives our hardware platforms.

In this role you will lead the design, implementation and verification of FPGA logic for our hardware systems. You will take responsibility for developing and maintaining the firmware that underpins our RF platforms, including systems based on the Altera Cyclone V architecture.

Your work will span initial concept development through to integration and testing on live hardware. You will collaborate closely with software, RF and systems engineers to ensure that your designs interface reliably with the rest of our technology.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a practical engineer who can work independently, solve real problems, and explore new ideas with curiosity and confidence. This role is aimed at someone with enough experience to take ownership of FPGA development activity within a small team of software engineers.

• Strong experience in FPGA development and digital logic design
• Proficiency in SystemVerilog or VHDL
• Experience using FPGA development tools, ideally Altera Quartus and/or TCL scripting
• Understanding of key concepts such as timing analysis, timing closure and pipelining
• Ability to develop supporting code in C or C++, and scripting in Python or Matlab
• Experience integrating firmware with wider electronic or embedded systems
• Comfortable working with test equipment such as oscilloscopes and spectrum analysers

• Familiarity with RF systems, SDR concepts and modulation techniques such as FM, AM and Digital Modulation
• Understanding of analogue and digital electronics including passive components, mixers, PLLs, buses and memory architectures
• Ability to read, analyse and make minor edits to schematics or PCB layouts. Ideally able to build PCB boards from scratch.
• Interest in related engineering areas such as RF testing, software integration or hands-on lab work

Working at Metis

This role is primarily on-site at our Lincoln office. Because FPGA development is closely tied to our custom hardware, much of the design validation and testing happens here. Working from home is possible when needed, but day-to-day work is best done alongside the rest of the engineering team.

You will report to the Head of Software and work within a small group of engineers who take shared responsibility for delivering the firmware that powers our products.

‍

Security and Eligibility

Due to the nature of our work, candidates must be UK nationals and able to obtain UK security clearance. We are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

If you enjoy taking ownership, developing robust firmware and seeing your designs come to life in real hardware, we would be very happy to hear from you.

Metis Aerospace is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds. Successful candidates may be required to sign non-disclosure agreements and comply with export control and security requirements.

Please send a CV and short covering letter to careers@metisaerospace.com with subject line Hardware/Firmware Engineer (FPGA) – [Your Name].

‍