Staff FPGA Engineer

About the role

The Staff FPGA Engineer will lead the architecture, development, integration, and support of FPGA-based platforms used throughout Cytek's flow cytometry and imaging instrumentation portfolio. This role is responsible for defining and implementing FPGA architectures supporting real-time signal processing, image processing, detector acquisition, instrument control, communications, diagnostics, and automated quality control. The Staff FPGA Engineer will work closely with electrical, software, systems, optics, fluidics, and scientific teams to develop high-performance instrument platforms from concept through commercialization and sustaining support. The ideal candidate combines deep FPGA expertise with strong system-level thinking and a demonstrated ability to independently drive complex technical developments across multiple engineering disciplines.

Responsibilities

FPGA Architecture & Development

• Lead the architecture, design, implementation, and verification of FPGA-based subsystems using Verilog/SystemVerilog.
• Develop FPGA pipelines supporting real-time signal processing, image processing, detector acquisition, instrument control, and high-throughput data movement.
• Design interfaces to ADCs, DACs, memory devices, embedded processors, PCIe, Ethernet, SFP+, and related hardware.
• Optimize FPGA designs for throughput, latency, resource utilization, timing closure, and overall system performance.
• Establish reusable FPGA frameworks, IP, and verification methodologies to support current and future product platforms.

System Integration & Product Development

• Lead FPGA bring-up, debugging, subsystem integration, and system-level testing activities.
• Translate system requirements into FPGA architectures, interface definitions, and implementation plans.
• Support product development from feasibility and prototyping through verification, manufacturing transfer, and sustaining engineering.
• Troubleshoot complex issues involving detector performance, signal integrity, synchronization, data throughput, and instrument reliability.
• Collaborate with hardware, software, systems, optics, fluidics, and manufacturing teams to deliver integrated instrument solutions.

Technical Contributions

• Drive FPGA architecture decisions across multiple product and technology development efforts.
• Lead design reviews, technical investigations, and root-cause analysis activities.
• Mentor engineers in FPGA design, verification, debugging, and development best practices.
• Evaluate new devices, tools, and interface technologies to support future platform development.
• Serve as a technical resource for complex FPGA and digital-system challenges.

Product Quality & Lifecycle Support

• Develop verification plans, test strategies, and acceptance criteria for FPGA subsystems.
• Support design reviews, risk management, engineering documentation, and change control activities.
• Partner with Quality, Manufacturing, Operations, and Service teams to improve product reliability, manufacturability, and serviceability.
• Support field investigations and continuous product improvement efforts.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline. Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of FPGA development experience for scientific instrumentation, medical devices, communications systems, industrial systems, or other complex embedded platforms.
• Expert-level experience with Verilog/SystemVerilog design and implementation.
• Strong understanding of digital design principles including timing analysis, state machine design, pipelining, clock-domain crossing, synchronization, and verification.
• Experience implementing digital signal processing algorithms on FPGA platforms.
• Experience with FPGA simulation, timing closure, hardware debug, and board bring-up.
• Experience implementing high-speed interfaces including PCIe, Ethernet, memory interfaces, and high-speed converter interfaces.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technically complex projects and influence cross-functional engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Signal Processing, or related discipline.
• Experience with flow cytometry, imaging systems, optical instrumentation, or other analytical instrumentation.
• Experience with detector interfaces, data acquisition systems, and real-time measurement platforms.
• Experience with embedded processors and FPGA-based system architectures.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Ability to travel up to 10%.
• Ability to work in laboratory, manufacturing, and office environments.
• Ability to work at a computer and engineering workstation for extended periods.