Firmware Engineer

FPGA Firmware Engineer Location : Gloucester (On-Site – Flexible Working Options) Salary : Circa £55,000 Bonus & Benefits Type : Permanent Clearance : UK Eyes Only – Must be eligible for security clearance (5 years UK residency) A leading national security and defence technology organisation is seeking a hands-on FPGA Firmware Engineer to join a high-assurance product team developing mission-critical cyber systems for UK government clients. As an FPGA Firmware Engineer, you’ll work in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary environment focused on secure hardware appliances. This role is ideal for a junior to mid-level firmware engineer with at least 2 years’ industry experience writing VHDL and a passion for solving real-world security challenges. Key Responsibilities • Design and develop FPGA firmware using VHDL for high-throughput, security-focused platforms • Contribute across the full product lifecycle: design, implementation, test, and delivery • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including hardware, embedded software, and product leads • Support task planning, technical reviews, and troubleshooting of complex digital systems • Focus on building reliable, maintainable and high-performance firmware in demanding environments Key Skills & Experience Essential • Minimum 2 years of experience in FPGA development using VHDL • Solid understanding of firmware design principles and hardware interfacing • Familiarity with at least one modern FPGA toolchain (Altera/Intel preferred; Xilinx, Achronix also welcome) • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work within a structured development process • UK national, eligible for UK Eyes Only security clearance (unfortunately no dual nationals) Desirable • Experience developing with Altera FPGAs or high-bandwidth digital designs • Exposure to embedded hardware, DRAM interfaces, or network PHYs • Understanding of secure or safety-critical systems development Benefits Package • Competitive salary (~£55k) and annual performance bonus • On-site working with option for a 4-day condensed work week • 25 days holiday (plus buy/sell option), pension, private healthcare & dental • Ongoing development support and internal mobility opportunities • Inclusive and collaborative engineering culture with real-world impact If you're a technically capable FPGA Firmware Engineer looking to work on national security systems from the ground up, apply directly below or contact Declan Bryson at Anson McCade quoting the below reference. AMC/DB/FPGA/55 FPGA Firmware Engineer