Staff FPGA Engineer
About OLIX
AI is growing faster than any technology in history and the explosion in demand has created a massive infrastructure gap; we can no longer build chips or power stations fast enough to keep up. The industry is still leaning on a ten-year-old hardware blueprint that has reached its limit. A new paradigm that is faster and more efficient will be the biggest economic opportunity of the next century and create the most important company of the next decade. OLIX is building this next paradigm; the Optical Tensor Processing Unit (OTPU) achieves performance and energy efficiency that is impossible to match from existing chips.
The Role:
We are seeking a highly experienced Staff FPGA Engineer to lead the architecture, design, and technical direction of FPGA-based systems within our OTPU platform. This is a senior individual contributor role focused on system-level ownership, cross-functional technical leadership, and architectural decision-making. You will define high-performance FPGA subsystems spanning high-speed interfaces, precision timing and synchronisation, transceivers, and signal processing pipelines. You will work closely with ASIC, hardware, optical, and software teams to drive coherent system design, de-risk silicon development, and deliver production-grade solutions.
Responsibilities
Define and own FPGA architecture for high-performance, high-bandwidth systems.
Lead design and optimisation of high-speed interface subsystems (PCIe Gen4, multi-lane transceivers operating at >25 Gb/s NRZ).
Architect deterministic timing and synchronisation strategies across complex multi-device systems.
Drive FPGA-based prototyping efforts to support silicon development and system validation.
Establish design methodologies, coding standards, and verification strategies.
Guide implementation of robust error detection and correction mechanisms (ECC, including SECDED).Partner with software teams to define hardware–software interfaces and system control models.
Lead system-level debugging of complex hardware–software interactions.
Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across FPGA development efforts.
Identify performance bottlenecks and drive architectural improvements.
Maintain deep awareness of advancements in FPGA architectures and high-speed digital design.
Skills & Experience
8+ years of FPGA design experience, including significant experience in high-speed digital systems.
Proven experience architecting PCIe and high-speed transceiver-based systems.
Deep expertise in precision timing, deterministic networking, and synchronisation architectures (experience with White Rabbit strongly valued).
Strong background in signal processing pipelines implemented in FPGA.
Experience supporting ASIC prototyping or silicon validation via FPGA platforms.
Advanced verification experience (COCOTB, UVVM, OSVVM, or equivalent methodologies).
Expert-level proficiency in Verilog and/or VHDL.
Strong Python and scripting skills for tooling and automation.
Experience with Xilinx/AMD UltraScale+ or Versal architectures.
Demonstrated ability to lead technical direction without formal management authority.
Strong system-level debugging and performance optimisation experience.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
What We’re Looking For
A systems thinker who operates comfortably at architectural altitude.
A technical leader who raises the bar across design quality, performance, and reliability.
Someone who thrives in ambiguity and drives clarity across multidisciplinary teams.
A hands-on expert who can move between architecture and implementation when needed.
Compensation & Equity
Competitive salary, £182,000 commensurate with your experience, skills, and location.
Equity & Ownership: Meaningful stock options. You’re not just joining the mission; you’re owning a piece of it.
Proximity Bonus: We value your time. To minimise your commute and maximise your life, we offer a £24k annual Living-Local Bonus if your residence is within 20 minutes of the office.
Health & Wellbeing
Premium Healthcare: Comprehensive BUPA medical and dental cover, including Medical History Disregarded (MHD), for complete peace of mind.
Time Off: 25 days of annual leave, plus all UK bank holidays.
The Workspace & Tech
Optimal Environment: High-spec noise-cancelling headphones and a fully ergonomic workstation designed for deep focus.
Rapid Prototyping: Access to our high-performance 3D printing lab for work, experimentation, and personal creative projects.
Life at the Office
Chef-prepared meals: if you need to work late.
Caffeine on Us: We’ve got you covered with a tab at our favourite local coffee shop.
Relocation & Global Mobility
Visa Sponsorship: We hire the best in the world. We offer full UK and international visa sponsorship.
Seamless Relocation: Whether you’re moving across the country or across the globe, our dedicated relocation partner provides funding and concierge support to get you settled.
Due to U.S. export control regulations, candidates’ eligibility to work at OLIX depends on their most recent citizenship or permanent residency status. We are generally unable to consider applicants whose most recent citizenship or permanent residence is in certain restricted countries (currently including Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Venezuela). Applicants who have subsequently obtained citizenship or permanent residency in another country not subject to these restrictions may still be eligible.