Lead Firmware / FPGA Specialist

Salary: £76,000 - 94,000 per year

Requirements:

• We require a degree (BSc, BEng, MEng, MSc, PhD) in Electrical & Electronic Engineering or a similar engineering/science course.
• We require the ability to analyse system-level requirements and capture/derive detailed firmware requirements.
• We require experience in firmware design techniques and tools, from VHDL to place-and-route.
• We require experience in FPGA architectures such as system-on-chip, e.g. Xilinx Versal.
• We require experience in specifying timing and area constraints for efficient FPGA place and route.
• We require experience in integrating and debugging complex systems where firmware interacts with hardware and software.
• We require experience of working in mixed-discipline teams.
• We require 5 years UK residency and the ability to achieve full SC security clearance due to the nature of our work.
• Desirable: experience of auto-generated code using model-driven engineering with MATLAB and Simulink tools.
• Desirable: experience of design tools such as Verilog, SystemVerilog and UVM.
• Desirable: experience in Siemens tools HDLDesigner and QuestaSim.
• Desirable: experience in using DOORs and ReqTracer.
• Desirable: experience within the defence industry.
• We value a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Responsibilities:

• We work on firmware and FPGAs that underpin our current surveillance radar systems and next-generation technologies.
• We deliver high-performance surveillance radar solutions across air, land, and maritime domains.
• We help architect and develop the next generation of surveillance radar technology from the ground up.
• We support the full engineering lifecycle, including requirement capture, architecture definition, design maturation, integration, and qualification support.
• We deliver firmware for complex digital systems that meet challenging future customer requirements.
• We use our technical experience across all aspects of firmware development to support key products.
• We enhance processes and ways of working across UK-wide FPGA/Firmware delivery teams.
• We mentor junior team members to help develop their skills and knowledge in firmware development.

Technologies:

• Architect
• FPGA
• Firmware
• Hardware
• Support
• Matlab
• Security
• SystemVerilog
• Verilog
• VHDL

More:

We are Leonardo UK, a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security, headquartered in Italy with over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 UK sites. This Lead Firmware / FPGA Specialist role sits within our Surveillance Sector and is based in Edinburgh, with additional location options in Newcastle and hybrid working. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports wellbeing, career development, and work-life balance, including generous leave with up to 12 additional flexi-days, an award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution, free access to mental health support and financial advice, a bonus scheme for management level and below, learning access via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning, a referral reward programme, flexible benefits up to 500 annually, and flexible hours with hybrid working options. We are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace where diverse teams help drive innovation and better outcomes.

last updated 36 week of 2026