Senior FPGA Prototyping Engineer - Hardware

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior FPGA Prototyping Engineer - Hardware

Company: NVIDIA

Location: Santa Clara, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Hardware Engineering / FPGA Prototyping

Date Posted: 2025-06-10T00:00:00

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead the development and implementation of complex FPGA prototypes for cutting-edge GPUs and SOCs, focusing on high-performance hardware design.
• Optimize FPGA designs through advanced synthesis, place, and route techniques to achieve aggressive timing closure and maximize prototype efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with ASIC design, verification, and software teams to ensure seamless integration and successful bring-up of FPGA prototypes.
• Provide expert technical support and debugging assistance to internal teams utilizing FPGA prototypes, ensuring smooth operation and problem resolution.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Translate complex RTL designs into FPGA-compatible formats, addressing architectural nuances and optimizing for target FPGA platforms.
• Execute backend FPGA flows including synthesis using tools like Synopsys Protocompiler or Synplify Premier, and place and route using Xilinx Vivado.
• Analyze and resolve timing issues in FPGA designs to achieve timing closure and ensure prototype performance meets specifications.
• Generate FPGA bitstreams and perform hardware bring-up on standard FPGA prototyping platforms.
• Utilize lab debug methodologies and tools such as Identify or ChipScope, along with lab equipment like oscilloscopes and logic analyzers, to diagnose and resolve hardware issues.
• Define and configure design parameters, develop or modify bring-up and testing infrastructure, and verify design correctness on the FPGA prototype.
• Release validated FPGA prototypes to internal customers and provide ongoing technical support, debugging assistance, and issue resolution.
• Proactively identify and implement improvements to the FPGA prototyping flow and methodologies to enhance efficiency and performance.
• Document design implementations, configurations, bring-up procedures, and debugging efforts comprehensively.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 7 years of proven experience in FPGA prototyping for candidates with a Bachelor's degree, or 5+ years with a Master's degree. Experience should include significant hands-on work with complex hardware designs and advanced FPGA tools.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience with FPGA prototyping architecture, devices, and advanced prototyping flows.
• Proficiency in backend FPGA flows, including synthesis (Synopsys Protocompiler, Synplify Premier) and place and route (Xilinx Vivado).
• Strong understanding and practical experience with timing closure techniques for complex FPGA designs.
• Solid knowledge of Verilog, System Verilog, and fundamental digital design concepts.
• Experience with ASIC design and verification tools such as VCS (or equivalent), Verdi, and GDB.
• Excellent debugging and problem-solving skills in a hardware prototyping context.
• Hands-on experience with lab FPGA debug methodologies and tools (Identify, ChipScope) and lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers).
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and coordinate with cross-functional teams across different locations.

Preferred Skills:

• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Perl, shell scripting, or Tcl for flow automation and data analysis.
• Experience with memory bring-up of high-speed interfaces like LPDDR5/6, DDR5/6, CXL/PCIE, or USB4/3.
• Prior experience with hardware emulation or prototyping platforms such as Synopsys HAPS, Cadence Palladium/Protium (Zebu), or Siemens EDA (Mentor) Veloce, particularly for high-performance processors or SOCs.
• Strong documentation, communication, and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration and knowledge sharing.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• While traditional design portfolios aren't required, candidates should be prepared to discuss and demonstrate their experience with complex FPGA prototyping projects.
• Highlight specific examples of challenging designs successfully implemented and debugged on FPGA platforms.
• Showcase experience with various FPGA devices and prototyping platforms.
• Demonstrate proficiency in utilizing synthesis, place and route, and timing analysis tools through project examples.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to articulate your FPGA prototyping process, including RTL adaptation, partitioning strategies, and flow automation techniques.
• Discuss your approach to timing closure, including analysis, constraints management, and optimization methods.
• Explain your debug methodology, including the use of lab equipment and on-chip debug tools.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: 168,000 USD - 264,500 USD

Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefits package offered by NVIDIA, including health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Equity participation, providing an ownership stake in the company's success.
• Retirement savings plans such as 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off, holidays, and parental leave.
• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.
• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, typically 40 hours per week, with potential for additional hours as needed to meet project deadlines and critical milestones in a fast-paced hardware development environment.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Computer Hardware Manufacturing, specializing in GPU-accelerated computing, AI, deep learning, gaming, and various other advanced technologies.

Company Size: 10,001+ employees (approximately 42,100 as per LinkedIn), indicating a large, established global organization.

Founded: 1993. NVIDIA has a long history of innovation in graphics and computing, consistently reinventing itself to stay at the forefront of technology.

Team Structure:

• The FPGA Prototyping team likely works closely with ASIC design, verification, and software engineering teams.
• Collaboration is expected across different geographies, requiring strong coordination and communication skills.
• The structure likely involves project-based teams focused on specific product lines (GPUs, SOCs).

Methodology:

• The hardware development process likely follows a structured approach involving design, verification, prototyping, and validation phases.
• Agile or iterative methodologies may be employed to manage the complexity of large hardware projects.
• Emphasis on rigorous testing, debugging, and problem-solving throughout the development cycle.

Company Website: http://www.nvidia.com

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Senior-level hardware engineering role, indicating responsibility for complex technical tasks, mentorship of junior engineers, and potential for technical leadership within the FPGA prototyping domain.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to an Engineering Manager or Director within the Hardware Engineering or Silicon Engineering organization.

Design Impact: This role is critical for enabling early software development and hardware validation of NVIDIA's next-generation products, directly impacting time-to-market and product quality.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to deepen expertise in advanced FPGA prototyping techniques and tools.
• Potential to move into technical leadership roles, mentoring junior engineers and leading complex prototyping projects.
• Growth into broader hardware engineering or architecture roles within NVIDIA.
• Opportunities to contribute to the development of future FPGA prototyping methodologies and platforms.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: On-site office environment in Santa Clara, CA, likely a corporate campus setting with dedicated lab space for hardware development and debugging.

Office Location(s): Santa Clara, CA. This location is within the heart of Silicon Valley, providing access to a large tech talent pool and industry resources.

Design Workspace Context:

• Access to specialized hardware labs equipped with FPGA prototyping platforms, debugging tools, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
• Collaborative workspace designed to facilitate interaction between hardware, software, and verification teams.
• Environment that supports focused technical work while also encouraging knowledge sharing and problem-solving sessions.

Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site work schedule. The nature of hardware bring-up and debug may occasionally require flexibility in working hours, especially during critical project phases.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial screening call with HR to assess basic qualifications and experience.
• Technical interviews focusing on FPGA prototyping expertise, digital design fundamentals, and problem-solving skills. Be prepared to discuss your experience with synthesis, P&R, timing closure, and lab debug.
• Behavioral interviews to assess collaboration skills, problem-solving approach, and fit within NVIDIA's culture.
• Potential for a technical challenge or presentation where you may be asked to walk through a complex FPGA prototyping project or solve a design problem.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Prepare to discuss specific FPGA prototyping projects in detail, highlighting the challenges faced, your approach to solving them, and the tools and methodologies used.
• Focus on demonstrating your understanding of the entire FPGA prototyping flow, from RTL adaptation to debug and validation.
• Be ready to explain your timing closure strategies and how you optimized designs for performance.
• If you have experience with memory bring-up or high-speed interfaces, prepare specific examples to discuss.

Challenge Preparation:

• Review fundamental digital design concepts, Verilog/System Verilog, and FPGA architecture.
• Practice explaining technical concepts clearly and concisely.
• Be prepared to discuss hypothetical scenarios related to FPGA prototyping challenges and how you would approach them.

ATS Keywords: FPGA Prototyping, Hardware Engineering, RTL, Synthesis, Place and Route, Timing Closure, Verilog, System Verilog, Digital Design, Debugging, Problem Solving, Lab Debug, Synopsys Protocompiler, Synplify Premier, Xilinx Vivado, VCS, Verdi, GDB, Identify, ChipScope, Scripting, Perl, Shell Scripting, Tcl, Memory Bring Up, LPDDR, DDR, CXL, PCIE, USB, Hardware Emulation, Synopsys HAPS, Zebu, Mentor Veloce, Collaboration, Communication, Interpersonal Skills, ASIC Design, SOC Design, Hardware Validation, Silicon Engineering, High-Performance Computing, GPU, SOC.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Synopsys Protocompiler or Synplify Premier: Used for FPGA synthesis, focusing on optimizing RTL for target FPGA architectures.
• Xilinx Vivado: Used for place and route, timing analysis, and bitstream generation for Xilinx FPGAs. Proficiency in achieving timing closure within Vivado is essential.
• Verilog and System Verilog: Hardware description languages used for RTL design and verification.
• ASIC Design and Verification Tools (VCS or equivalent, Verdi, GDB): Used for simulating and debugging RTL before mapping to FPGA.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Collaboration tools for coordinating with ASIC design, verification, and software teams.
• Version control systems (e.g., Git) for managing RTL code and design files.

Research & Testing:

• Lab Debug Equipment (Oscilloscopes, Logic Analyzers): Essential for debugging hardware on the FPGA prototype.
• On-chip Debug Tools (Identify, ChipScope): Integrated tools within the FPGA flow for debugging internal signals and behavior.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• Innovation: Pushing the boundaries of FPGA prototyping to achieve faster and more efficient results.
• Collaboration: Working effectively with cross-functional teams across different geographies to achieve common goals.
• Problem-Solving: Tackling sophisticated hardware and flow-related problems daily.
• Technical Excellence: Striving for high quality and performance in FPGA prototype development.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, requiring strong communication and coordination with multiple engineering teams.
• Emphasis on sharing knowledge and debugging strategies.
• Fast-paced environment that requires quick adaptation and problem resolution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Translating complex, high-performance ASIC designs onto resource-constrained FPGA platforms while meeting aggressive timing requirements.
• Debugging complex hardware and software interactions on the FPGA prototype.
• Coordinating effectively with large, geographically distributed teams.
• Staying updated with the latest FPGA technologies and prototyping methodologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen expertise in advanced FPGA prototyping techniques and complex hardware architectures.
• Gain experience working with cutting-edge GPU and SOC designs.
• Develop advanced debugging and problem-solving skills in a real-world hardware environment.
• Opportunity to learn and work with various high-speed interfaces and memory technologies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Describe your process for taking a complex RTL design and mapping it onto an FPGA.
• How do you approach partitioning a large design for FPGA prototyping?
• Walk me through your methodology for achieving timing closure on a challenging FPGA design.
• Explain your approach to debugging hardware issues on an FPGA prototype using lab equipment and on-chip tools.

Company Culture Questions:

• How do you effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams (ASIC design, verification, software) during the prototyping process?
• Describe a time you faced a significant technical challenge in FPGA prototyping and how you overcame it.
• How do you stay current with the latest advancements in FPGA technology and prototyping methodologies?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 1-2 complex FPGA prototyping projects to discuss in detail.
• Focus on the technical challenges, your role, the tools used, and the outcomes.
• Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you optimized designs, achieved timing closure, or debugged difficult issues.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume to highlight your experience with FPGA prototyping tools (Synopsys Protocompiler, Synplify Premier, Xilinx Vivado), digital design skills (Verilog, System Verilog), and lab debug experience.
• Prepare to discuss specific examples of complex FPGA prototyping projects you have worked on during the interview process.
• Research NVIDIA's recent work in GPUs, SOCs, and accelerated computing to understand the context of the designs you would be prototyping.