Senior Specialist, Firmware VHDL Engineer

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Title: Senior Specialist Firmware VHDL Engineer

Job Code: 46267

Job Location: San Diego, CA

Job Schedule: 9/80- employees work 9 out of 14 days- totaling 80 hours worked- and have every other Friday off

Job Description:

Help shape the future of secure RF communications. As an FPGA Engineer on our team, you’ll design the FPGA architectures that power next‑generation mission‑critical communication systems. Your work will directly influence how reliably and securely information moves in some of the most demanding environments in the world.

In this role, you’ll take ownership from concept through deployment: defining architectures, developing high‑performance VHDL/Verilog, optimizing for speed and resource efficiency, and validating designs through rigorous simulation and bench testing. You’ll partner closely with hardware, software, and systems engineers to bring complex mixed‑signal and RF processing solutions to life.

If you enjoy solving hard technical problems, pushing FPGA technology to its limits, and contributing to products with real-world impact, this is a place where you can make your mark.

Essential Functions:

Translate system-level requirements into FPGA architectures, specifications, and work estimates

Develop and optimize FPGA designs for advanced RF communication systems (filtering, mixing, modulation, ECC, and more)

Design, implement, and verify FPGA‑based DSP algorithms for real-time signal processing

Run simulations, perform timing closure, and integrate designs on hardware to ensure top-tier performance

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate FPGA solutions into full system designs

Perform code reviews, troubleshoot design issues, and continuously refine existing architectures

Produce high-quality engineering artifacts: block diagrams, interface control documents, test procedures, and review packages

Travel up to 10% to engage with stakeholders and support on-site integration activities

Must be able to obtain and maintain a minimum of a Secret level clearance.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 6 years of prior redlevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 4 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related experience.

Preferred Additional Skills:

Minimum of 6 years’ experience with VHDL, the FPGA design process, and the tools such as Xilinx Vivado, ModelSim and Synplify, used to generate the FPGA designs

Minimum of 4 years’ experience with RF principles, including filtering, mixing, and signal conversion.

Minimum of 4 years’ experience with digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms and their implementation on FPGAs.

Minimum of 6 years’ experience with debugging tools including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and signal generators

Minimum of 4 years’ experience creating clear technical documentation, design specifications, and delivering presentations to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

Experience with embedded systems and microcontroller interfacing

Experience with implementation of cryptographic algorithms in FPGA devices

Experience with designing for space environments

An active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California is $106,500 - $197,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

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L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.

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