FPGA Engineer
Phoenix, AZ /Grand Rapids, MI
Avionics - Surveillance - Engineering /
Full Time - Reg /
On-site
About Acron Aviation (Avionics - Surveillance):
Acron Aviation designs, engineers, and manufactures certified avionics systems that support safety-critical flight operations across commercial and military aviation. Within Avionics, the Surveillance product line develops and sustains systems that enable aircraft awareness, collision avoidance, and airspace interoperability. Our portfolio includes TCAS, Mode S transponders, ADS-B, and integrated surveillance solutions deployed across commercial, military, and rotorcraft platforms. This work is performed in highly regulated environments and demands deep expertise across systems, hardware, software, and RF throughout the full product lifecycle.
Job Title
Specialist, Firmware Engineer - Surveillance
Position Summary
We are seeking an early- to mid-career Firmware Engineer to join the Surveillance hardware product development team. In this role, you will design, develop, verify, and maintain safety-critical firmware for avionics and embedded systems that support TCAS and transponder applications, in compliance with DO-254 standards. You will work closely with hardware engineers, system architects, and certification authorities to ensure robust design assurance processes are followed throughout the product lifecycle.
You will collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, including mechanical, electrical (digital/analog), RF, firmware, and software engineering, to plan, design, prototype, and test avionics systems. This work supports commercial air transport, general aviation, and emerging platforms such as Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and eVTOL aircraft.
Key Responsibilities
Develop firmware using Xilinx and Microchip FPGAs and associated toolchains (ISE, Vivado, Libero)
Utilize simulation tools such as Active-HDL and QuestaSim for design verification
Design and implement RTL using VHDL and/or Verilog
Apply DO-254 airborne electronic hardware development processes
Perform requirements-based verification of firmware designs
Generate design documentation including HRDs, HDDs, HCIAs, and certification artifacts such as PHACs
Communicate effectively across technical and cross-functional teams
Interface directly with customers, in person or virtually, to understand requirements and develop solutions
Support additional engineering activities as assigned
Travel up to 10% as required
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience, or a graduate degree with a minimum of 2 years of related experience
Minimum 3 years of experience applying systems engineering principles, including requirements definition, verification, design reviews, integration, and test (preferred)
Minimum 3 years of experience in FPGA and firmware design (preferred)
Hands-on experience designing and developing avionics, RF, or sensor-based systems
Preferred Additional Skills
Experience with aerospace systems, particularly integrated hardware/software product development
Exposure to Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
Awareness of electrical design considerations impacting firmware and FPGA development
Experience with RTOS integration and understanding of hardware implications
Practical understanding of RF design, particularly in the L-band frequency range and FPGA applications
Strong interpersonal skills with experience collaborating in multidisciplinary engineering teams
Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
Knowledge of aerospace standards such as DO-160 and DO-178
Experience with design-to-cost and design-for-manufacturability principles
Experience supporting production and test across geographically distributed teams
Proven ability to manage multiple programs and priorities simultaneously
Ability to operate independently and determine appropriate technical paths forward with minimal oversight
Pilot license or Part 107 certification (a plus)
Equal Opportunity Statement
Acron Aviation is proud to be an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants with respect and dignity and to maintaining a workplace free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other legally protected characteristic.
Additional Information:
Acron Aviation maintains a drug-free workplace and conducts pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where allowed by law. Acron Aviation is an E-Verify employer
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
