Description

The Electrical and Electronic engineering function in Ultra supports the hardware development lifecycle consisting of requirements analysis, design, implementation, test and verification in order to deliver electronic or electrical components and subassemblies into projects and products.

A professional at this grade possesses knowledge for specific fields and performs structured work assignments. Uses established procedures to solve problems by making judgments and gets work done with quality under moderate supervision. Has limited discretion to vary from established procedures.

Scope

Define, architect, design, develop, document and test FPGA firmware as part of our 20 strong firmware engineering team, within the Communication Systems Business Unit, delivering multiple concurrent research, development and production programmes ranging from tens of £k to several £m.

Responsible for / Key responsibilities

• Perform requirements analysis, requirements derivation from system level to firmware level requirements and architecture.
• Apply best and pragmatic practices to FPGA firmware design under the direction of the lead firmware engineer.
• Implement FPGA firmware modules and ensure that modules adhere to the project's requirements and firmware group's library policies for module reuse, coding standards, project development standards and security aspects.
• Review and understand requirements to produce firmware test specifications including module and full FPGA design test specifications.
• Ensure test procedures and processes are compatible with the project and firmware groups continuous integration systems.
• Undertake integration activities with software and hardware, requiring developing knowledge of both of these transversal domains.
• Proposes improvements in tools, processes and techniques that support quality and innovation and make the firmware development more efficient and effective.
• Actively contribute to defined aspects of the project to achieve optimal balance between requirements, schedule and cost.
• Contribute to customer facing meetings through document preparation, presentations and participation in meetings
• Estimate time and effort required for firmware activities and deliver to these time and effort estimates to ensure cost and schedule adherence.
• Review technical proposals, and assists with providing accurate estimates for the associated effort, costs and risks, for bids and proposals, leading to contract awards.
• Manage security of information as defined in the Security manual to ensure compliance with Government regulations.

Role requirements

• Essential:
  • Willing and able to obtain, and maintain, SC security clearance.
• Desirable:
  • Willing and able to obtain, and maintain, DV security clearance.

Qualifications / skills required

• Essential:
  • Degree in an engineering, mathematical or science-based subject or equivalent experience
  • Experience of FPGA module design and implementation
  • Thorough experience of using Xilinx, Lattice, Altera or Microsemi FPGAs and their associated development tool chains
  • Experience of FPGA firmware testing, test tools and design for test
  • Ability to read, interpret and understand hardware schematics
  • Experience of version control, change control and bug tracking tools and systems
• Desirable:
  • Experience of/exposure to best practice firmware development processes/lifecycles
  • Experience of/exposure to continuous integration and automated test tools and frameworks
  • Exposure to coding standards for defence, space or air worthiness techniques and standards such as MISRA
  • Experience of DOORS and Enterprise Architect

Notice

Due to the nature of the programs we deliver for our customers, candidates may need to obtain the relevant security clearance or handle export-controlled material as defined by the role's requirements.

Our Benefits

Every employee is critical to our success, and as such, we offer a range of flexible employee benefits, including:

• Annual Bonus
• Private Medical Cover
• 25 days' holiday with the option to buy an extra 5
• Pension Contribution
• 4 x Life Assurance Cover
• Flexible working hours with a 1pm finish on a Friday
• Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme, will writing and more
• Monthly Security Clearance Allowance - Subject to you holding the required security clearance

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement