Hardware Engineer (High Performance Computing Digital Design Engineering) - Entry Level (Maryland)

About the Role

As a Technical Intelligence & Science Services professional, you will use your skills to create the systems and tools that enhance the operation of intelligence. You will advise, administer, and perform scientific projects, such as planning, designing, and constructing specialized equipment, ensuring adherence to sound engineering and scientific standards and principles. The NSA offers multiple areas of focus for facilities engineers, including computer, architectural, electrical, mechanical, and structural. We are seeking skills in computer design, microelectronics, radio frequency design, and systems engineering to protect the nation.

Responsibilities

• Accelerate application performance using Register Transfer Level (RTL) design
• Develop and integrate Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) firmware
• Achieve RTL design closure using logic simulation, functional verification, synthesis, and timing analysis
• Design, simulate, and test Printed Circuit Board (PCB) logic
• Perform PCB layout
• Address Signal Integrity and Power Integrity challenges
• Manage commercial systems acquisition and contracting
• Create and maintain documentation on technical information
• Operate specialized scientific and technical equipment
• Attend conferences and engage with technical communities to stay current with emerging technologies
• Conduct research, including studies, experiments, and investigations
• Research emerging technologies for application within the Agency
• Serve as a subject matter expert to support research and development efforts
• Work with customers to clarify their needs and determine solutions
• Perform modeling and simulation to evaluate design alternatives

Qualifications

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position. Degree must be in Engineering, Physics, Material Science, or a related field (e.g., electronics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics). For Engineering degrees, if the program is not ABET accredited, it must include specified coursework.

Specified coursework includes courses in differential and integral calculus and 5 of the following 18 areas:

• Statics or dynamics
• Strength of materials/stress-strain relationships
• Fluid mechanics, hydraulics
• Thermodynamics
• Electromagnetic fields
• Nature and properties of materials/relating particle and aggregate structure to properties
• Solid state electronics
• Microprocessor applications
• Computer systems
• Signal processing
• Digital design
• Systems and control theory
• Circuits or generalized circuits
• Communication systems
• Power systems
• Computer networks
• Software development
• Any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, or soil mechanics

Entry/Developmental: Entry is with a Bachelor's degree and no experience.

Skills

The ideal candidate is someone with excellent problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills who is:

• Motivated
• Creative
• Able to work effectively across several different functional areas in a collaborative environment
• Well-organized and able to handle multiple assignments
• Customer service and requirements focused
• Detail oriented

Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following is desired:

• Concepts, theories, and methods for designing, analyzing, testing, and verifying large-scale computational and data storage systems
• Translating conceptual designs into technical specifications
• Designing digital logic (e.g., FPGAs, ASICs)
• Experience using Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools
• Unified Verification Methodology (UVM)
• Applying engineering principles to design and layout PCBs
• Firmware development for configuring and controlling hardware devices
• Evaluating information in technical documents to understand its importance and significance
• Operating specialized scientific and technical equipment
• Applied Cryptography and Mathematics
• Programming Languages (C, C++, OpenCL, Perl, Python, TCL)
• Hardware description languages (VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog)
• Computer System Architecture and Design
• Computer Networks and Security
• CPU and GPU processor architectures
• Memory, interconnect, and storage architectures

Pay

Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.

Salary Range: $87,362 - $123,388 (Entry/Developmental). Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position. Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience.

Benefits

NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Schedule

This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with a basic 8-hour/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible).