Lead FPGA Engineer

About Northwood Space:

Northwood is on a mission to transform connectivity between earth and space and bring the benefits of space to the masses through innovations in space communications technologies. If you are energized by building at a high-velocity company and seeing your work deployed in locations around the globe with real impact, we want you at Northwood.

Role:

Northwood is deploying a global network of phased array ground stations that will revolutionize how satellites communicate with Earth—delivering real-time, ultra-high-throughput connections that power everything from commercial ventures to national security missions. We need a Lead FPGA Engineer to architect the digital backbone of our antenna systems, pushing the boundaries of data transport and signal processing to handle massive parallel streams with rock-solid reliability. If you're excited by designing FPGA solutions for systems that track hundreds of satellites across orbits and process terabytes of space data in real time, this is your chance to lead the charge.

Responsibilities

• Design core space-communication systems – Architect and implement networking and DSP blocks on FPGAs to process high-rate data from phased-array antennas and support reliable connectivity where traditional systems struggle.

• Lead projects from concept to production – Work with cross-functional teams through prototyping, productization, deployment, and ongoing operations to ensure systems meet performance needs in demanding environments.

• Develop system architecture – Assess trade-offs, define requirements, and optimize architectures for resilient, high-speed communication links that support global customers with minimal downtime.

• Debug and improve deployed systems – Review field test data from global ground stations, identify hardware-software integration issues, and update designs to improve reliability and throughput.

Basic Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience delivering complex digital hardware designs

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or similar hardware-focused field

• Strong Verilog/SystemVerilog skills for efficient, synthesizable designs

• Python experience for automation, simulation, and system integration

• Hands-on experience with FPGA-based DSP and/or networking

• Experience with FPGA SoCs, including processors, peripherals, and custom logic

• Proficiency with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers) for debugging high-speed FPGA designs

• On-site role in Torrance, with some flexibility

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency with C++ or Rust - For embedded software that complements your FPGA work in performance-critical applications

• Hands-on with high-performance PCBA architecture and design, including FPGA integration: You've architected boards that push the limits of speed, power, and reliability in demanding environments

Additional Information:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.