Join to apply for the Senior Firmware (FPGA) Engineer role at Portal Londrinatur

Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment on the battlespace. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace, including airborne, naval and ground platforms, electronic combat, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. Together we offer fantastic opportunities for employees to learn and develop their career. At Thales UK we research, develop and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better and safer. We innovate across major industries such as aerospace, defence, security and space. Your health and well‑being matters to us, which is why we offer flexibility to do what is important to you – whether that is part‑time hours, job sharing, home working, or flexible start and finish times. We support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Become a Key Part Of a Team With a Proven Track Record For Delivering Firmware Across Defence Products

Typical Firmware Services Provided:

• Architecture, requirements specification, design, verification and validation.
• Working in conjunction with systems, software and hardware engineers to develop electronic systems.

Projects involve using the latest industry‑class development tools for FPGA and system‑on‑chip hardware technologies. Work is carried out to a structured firmware design process.

The role is based at our Manor Royal site in Crawley and can support a mix of on‑site and remote working. Periods of time may be required at customer sites and/or integration facilities.

As a People 1st Employer, we are passionate about providing opportunities to advance your engineering career. We support professional registration applications, fund membership of a professional body and offer access to a wide variety of learning resources through our comprehensive e‑Learning Engine. Development pathways exist towards roles such as Firmware Architect, Firmware Engineering Manager, or a recognised Thales Specialist or Expert.

Each successful candidate will have demonstrable experience of firmware engineering in the defence, transportation or aerospace domain and will ideally have experience interfacing with external customers as well as internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Work as part of firmware teams to deliver firmware projects on agreed time, cost and quality.
• Verify firmware using hardware verification languages or hardware description languages.
• Design firmware using hardware description languages.
• Enhance firmware related processes (documenting, scripting, reporting, process automation).
• Work closely with multi‑disciplinary teams.

Desired Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A relevant degree (BEng, MEng, EngD or PhD) in electronics, supported by 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Membership or fellowship of a professional engineering body, preferably with or working towards chartered status.

Specialisation / Knowledge in Some Of The Following

• Leading firmware design/architecture.
• Leading small teams of firmware engineers.
• Verification test bench architecture with SystemVerilog or C++.
• Verification methodology: Advanced VHDL verification or OSVVM/UVVM.
• Requirements management: IBM Rational DOORS.
• Simulation of designs using Mentor Graphics ModelSim or Questasim.
• Digital electronic design in hardware development languages: VHDL and either Verilog or SystemVerilog.
• Implementation of complex designs using any vendor‑specific development tools.
• Technologies: PCIe, Ethernet, serial communications, AXI4.
• Object‑oriented design techniques.
• Image processing techniques and algorithms.
• Algorithm development using Matlab.
• Linux development environments.
• Creation of firmware development plans and other design documentation.

Successful Candidate Will Be Someone Who

• Is a team player with a can‑do attitude that performs effectively in a multi‑disciplinary team environment and promotes inclusiveness and diversity.
• Is confident in solving complex problems, asks challenging questions to deepen understanding, and suggests new ideas to enhance our product offering and value.
• Is a self‑starter who manages their own workload and meets agreed objectives while contributing to wider operational goals.

Security Clearance Statement

Due to the nature of our work at Thales, many roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires a UK national with Security Clearance (SC) without caveats. If you currently hold SC, that is advantageous; otherwise you must obtain SC prior to commencing employment. Dual nationals from non‑ITAR countries may be considered if approved by the MOD. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

Seniority level

• Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

• Part‑time

Job function

• Engineering and Information Technology
• Software Development