Staff FPGA Engineer

Please include a cover letter with your resume (in one file) describing how you would be a great fit at Photonic and what attributes you could bring to our growing team.

FPGA Engineers
at Photonic are part of the Hardware Control team. As our
Senior/Staff Engineer
you will play a key role in designing and implementing real-time DSP and digital algorithms using FPGAs while working closely with high-performing teams of engineers and scientists with expertise spanning device physics to classical computer architecture and software. Together, we will develop, prototype, and implement key solutions for our silicon-based quantum computer architecture.

You enjoy the thrill of learning new technology and new science, while bringing your significant FPGA expertise, open mind, and creativity to tackle multi-variable problems. As our Senior/Staff FPGA Engineer you will be at the forefront of cutting-edge FPGA development as we build the world's first truly scalable quantum computing system.

WHAT WE NEED YOU TO DO

• Lead the architectural design and development of FPGA-based control systems in quantum computing, from conception to implementation, to meet project requirements and performance goals.
• Collaborate with hardware, software, and quantum teams to integrate FPGA solutions into larger systems and products.
• Conduct feasibility studies, performance analysis, and risk assessments to guide architectural decisions and optimizations.
• Create and optimize Register-Transfer Level (RTL) designs
• Develop and implement verification and validation strategies and test plans for FPGA-based systems
• Provide high quality documentation of code, design, and testing results
• Deliver high-quality products in an agile environment, effectively managing simultaneous task and priorities.
• Contribute to the intellectual property portfolio of the company through innovative solutions and technologies.
• Collaborate with the team to tailor fault-tolerant architectures to real-world silicon devices
• Provide expert-level technical support in the resolution of FPGA design and application issues.
• Work through ambiguous or undefined and challenging problems by thinking abstractly to produce creative solutions
• Lead, train, guide, mentor and develop the capabilities of current and additional team members

WHAT YOU BRING TO OUR TEAM

• Undergraduate, master's degree or a PhD in electrical engineering or a related field
• 12+ years of FPGA design experience (or an equivalent combination of graduate education and experience)
• Expertise in VHDL/Verilog, with additional coding experience in C, C++, or similar low-level languages
• Expertise in SystemVerilog for advanced verification
• Expertise in RTL simulation and testbench design
• Solid experience with Xilinx FPGAs and associated development tools
• Experience with embedded Linux, PetaLinux and/or other embedded operating systems.
• Experience with Ethernet protocols (e.g., 10GBASE-T, 10GBASE-R) , 10G Ethernet PHYs and MACs, and UDP/ TCP/IP protocols.
• A strong understanding of timing analysis concepts, and constraints optimization techniques for high-speed FPGA designs
• Experience with floor planning, placement, and routing algorithms for FPGA devices, including critical path analysis
• Experience with the use and integration of Off-the Shelf (OTS) FPGA IP cores
• Experience developing custom IP for production FPGAs and/or ASICs.
• Experience with high-speed FPGA transceivers and memory interfaces.
• Experience with familiarity with automated design verification
• Proficiency with scripting languages (Python, Perl, Bash)
• Proficiency in Git version control system, especially for FPGA development
• Experience with release management tools and practices, including versioning schemes, release notes, and packaging for deployment
• Familiarity with agile methodologies and sprint-based development processes, with hands-on experience using JIRA or similar project management tools.
• Experience with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic, and spectrum analyzers. Comfortable with hardware debugging
• Ability to creatively solve problems, ability to resolve ambiguous requirements, prioritize, and manage simultaneous tasks
• Excellent communication skills and ability to express complex technical concepts in a clear and easy to understand way

Bonus

Photonic is designing the world's first quantum processor in silicon. It would be awesome if you had some familiarity with quantum physics, mathematics, and programming, but we will ensure that team members will have the opportunity to learn about quantum computing as we grow.

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK WITH US

• Get involved with a quantum startup company set to redefine computing
• Work closely with some of the brightest innovators in quantum technologies
• Enjoy a fast-paced and fun environment where you can try new things while solving innovative challenges every day
• Inclusive company culture
• Competitive salary, benefits (including life insurance, extended health, dental, long term disability, and a flexible spending account), and potential upside

The base annual salary range for this full-time role is between $120,000 to $198,000. This range reflects the minimum and maximum target range for new hire base salary across all Canadian locations. Actual compensation may vary outside of this range and is dependent on various factors including but not limited to a candidate's qualifications including relevant education and training, competencies, experience, geographic location, and business needs. Base pay is only one part of the total compensation package. Full time roles are eligible for equity and benefits. Base pay is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

The description above is what we think an ideal candidate would look like for this role. At Photonic, we understand that everyone has a different work and life journey. If you feel your experience is close to what we've described, but you might not meet all the requirements, please still apply All roles listed are for current vacancies. While artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist in reviewing applicant profiles, they do not determine candidate outcomes. Our hiring decisions are made by people, not algorithms. We are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We embrace and encourage our employees' differences, knowing that these very differences inspire innovation and build better teams. If there are any accommodations our team can make throughout our hiring process, please let us know.