FPGA Team Lead

About the role

Join the elite team at QDSS, where our engineers are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge Aerospace, Defense, Space, and Medical Device products. Your work will make a real impact, contributing to the core of engineering solutions that drive technological advancements. This role is a technical leadership position for an FPGA Team Lead supporting the modernization of surveillance avionics, requiring firmware development compliant with DO-254 and DO-178C for certification. The selected candidate will be involved in design specifications, FPGA simulation, and integration support while guiding a small engineering team. The position may be based in Phoenix, AZ, or performed remotely, with approximately 10 to 15% travel during integration and key design phases.

All candidates must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents.

Responsibilities

FPGA Design & Technical Execution

• Support FPGA development, simulation, and integration activities for instrumentation and control electronic systems.
• Develop, update, and review FPGA design documentation, including design specifications, requirements, and traceability documentation.
• Support simulation, debugging, root cause analysis, and resolution of FPGA design or verification issues.
• Participate in FPGA design flow activities, including design implementation, simulation, synthesis, timing analysis, integration, and test support.
• Support development and execution of informal and formal test campaigns for FPGA and hardware products.
• Prepare, develop, and support engineering simulations and related hardware/software used in the development of I&C electronic systems.

Team Leadership & Execution

• Provide technical leadership and day-to-day coordination for a team of FPGA and hardware engineers.
• Own task coordination, delivery commitments, and schedule visibility for assigned work.
• Help translate program requirements and technical objectives into actionable engineering tasks.
• Drive accountability, remove roadblocks, and support consistent progress across design and integration activities.
• Guide and mentor engineers by providing technical direction, leveraging subject matter experts, and helping the team make sound engineering decisions.
• Balance technical risk, program priorities, and resource needs to support on-time, high-quality delivery.

Customer & Stakeholder Interface

• Serve as a day-to-day technical point of contact for program management, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Communicate progress, risks, blockers, and mitigation plans clearly and professionally.
• Support technical interchange meetings, sprint reviews, design reviews, test readiness reviews, and milestone reviews.
• Coordinate across FPGA, hardware, systems, software, and test organizations to ensure alignment across the full development lifecycle.

Technical Oversight & Risk Management

• Review technical approaches, design decisions, verification plans, and test strategies with the engineering team.
• Identify technical risk areas early and support mitigation planning with senior engineers and subject matter experts.
• Ensure engineering work follows applicable QDSS processes, customer expectations, and quality standards.
• Support integration planning, test readiness, troubleshooting, and issue resolution during key phases of development.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team environment focused on technical quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in FPGA design, FPGA verification, digital hardware development, hardware testing, or related engineering work.
• Minimum of 2+ years of prior experience leading a small technical team, mentoring engineers, coordinating sprint execution, or managing technical task priorities.
• Hands-on experience with FPGA design and verification using VHDL, UVM, or similar languages and methodologies.
• Working knowledge of FPGA and hardware development lifecycles, including requirements, design, and integration documentation.
• Ability to troubleshoot FPGA, hardware, or integration issues through simulation, lab integration, debugging, and root cause analysis.
• Experience supporting formal or informal test campaigns for hardware, FPGA, or electronic systems.
• Ability to provide technical guidance, coordinate engineering tasks, mentor team members, or lead technical workstreams.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work with program leadership, customers, stakeholders, and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Experience working in a structured, regulated, safety-critical, mission-critical, or quality-driven engineering environment.
• U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residency is required.
• Ability to travel approximately 10 to 15% during testing, integration, and key design phases as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with FPGA verification using VHDL, UVM, or similar languages and methodologies.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, avionics, and regulated engineering environments.
• Experience with instrumentation and control electronic systems, real-time embedded hardware, safety-critical controls, or complex electronic systems.
• Experience with FPGA development and simulation tools such as Quartus, Vivado, ModelSim, Questa, or similar tools.
• Familiarity with scripting languages such as Python, Tcl, or similar tools used for automation, simulation, test, or workflow efficiency.
• Experience supporting technical reviews, design reviews, test readiness reviews, milestone reviews, or customer-facing technical meetings.
• Personnel management experience, including coaching, performance feedback, training plans, or employee development.
• Experience in adoption and/or integration of emerging technologies (e.g., generative AI, automation platforms, digital assistants) into day-to-day operations for continuous improvement.
• Experience with Doors and the ClearQuest family of products.

Benefits

At QDSS, our advantage is purpose-driven work, collaborative teams, and complex challenges that push boundaries and build lasting impact. You’ll grow your career while contributing to mission-critical programs that demand excellence and shape the future.

• Work That Matters – Next-generation, safety- and mission-critical projects where your contributions have real-world impact.
• Growth That’s Supported – Competitive compensation, employer-matched 401(k), certification assistance, and clear opportunities for advancement.
• A Culture That Works – A flexible, collaborative, and people-first environment where teamwork, innovation, and balance are valued.

• Competitive pay
• Comprehensive medical, dental, life, and disability coverage
• 401(k) with employer match
• Professional development support
• Flexible, friendly workplace