Principal Firmware Engineer at RC Fornax, Luton, 12 Months, £80-£90 per hour

Job Title: Principal Firmware Engineer

Location: Luton (4 days a week on-site)

Contract Length: 12 Months (Highly likely for extension)

Rate: £80 - £90 per hour (Inside IR35)

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Firmware Engineer to join a high-performing engineering team delivering advanced digital and FPGA-based solutions for complex defence and aerospace systems.

Working within a multidisciplinary environment, you will be responsible for the full firmware development lifecycle, from requirements capture and architecture definition through to design, verification, integration, and test.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement FPGA and firmware solutions for complex digital systems
• Derive detailed firmware requirements and architectures from system-level requirements
• Design, develop, and verify firmware using Verilog, SystemVerilog, and UVM methodologies
• Work with FPGA technologies including Xilinx 7 Series, UltraScale, Intel (Altera), and Microsemi devices
• Develop high-speed interface solutions including PCIe, Ethernet, and JESD
• Utilise MATLAB and Simulink for model-based design and auto-generated code development
• Support integration, verification, validation, and system-level testing activities

Requirements

• Proven experience in FPGA/Firmware Engineering within aerospace, defence, or other highly regulated industries
• Strong expertise with Xilinx toolsets, TCL, Verilog, SystemVerilog, and UVM
• Experience working with Xilinx 7 Series, UltraScale, Intel (Altera), or Microsemi FPGA architectures
• Knowledge of high-speed communication interfaces such as PCIe, Ethernet, and JESD
• Experience using MATLAB and Simulink for model-driven engineering
• Ability to derive firmware requirements and architectures from system requirements
• Understanding of structured firmware development methodologies, ideally DO-254
• HNC/HND, Degree, or equivalent experience in Electronics Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Physics, AI, Games Programming, or a related discipline

Due to the nature of this programme, candidates must have a minimum of 5 years continuous UK residency and be eligible to obtain SC Security Clearance.