FPGA Design Manager / Section Lead

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: FPGA Design Manager / Section Lead

Company: BAE Systems

Location: Nashua, New Hampshire, United States; Manchester, New Hampshire, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Engineering Management / Operations

Date Posted: 2026-02-20

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a leadership position within the Electronic Systems business area, focused on managing an FPGA Design group.

• It requires a blend of technical expertise in FPGA/ASIC design and strong leadership capabilities to guide and mentor engineering teams.

• The position plays a critical role in influencing program execution, managing scope, and advancing the state-of-the-art in FPGA design through the evaluation of modern tools and techniques.

• This role is crucial for supporting new development and established programs, ensuring the successful delivery of complex electronic systems for defense and commercial applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "FPGA Design Manager / Section Lead," the responsibilities listed align more closely with a technical management or engineering lead role within a specialized operations function (engineering operations/product development operations). The emphasis on process enhancement, program execution, and team development indicates a need for strong operational oversight within the engineering domain.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of FPGA Design engineers, fostering a high-performance environment.

• Drive the hiring and staffing of design engineers to meet program requirements and ensure adequate team capacity.

• Evaluate and implement modern tools, design techniques, and hardware resources to advance FPGA design capabilities within BAE Systems.

• Manage personnel performance and development, including conducting reviews, providing feedback, and identifying training needs.

• Influence program execution by providing technical leadership, managing scope, and mitigating risks.

• Communicate effectively with the engineering team, senior leadership, and across the organization to share best practices and lessons learned.

• Assist in the development, review, and approval of proposals, and negotiate scope with program stakeholders.

• Enhance and ensure consistent application of engineering processes across programs to improve efficiency and quality.

• Support key business initiatives aimed at improving execution, discipline, and overall business performance.

• Mentor less experienced team members, fostering their technical and professional growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of people management, technical leadership, project oversight, and process improvement, which are core tenets of operations management within a technical engineering context. The emphasis on "influencing program execution," "managing scope," and "enhancing engineering processes" directly translates to operational responsibilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (EE) or Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is required.

Experience:

• 10+ years of relevant experience in FPGA/ASIC design.

• Demonstrated experience leading and managing FPGA/ASIC design teams.

• Experience in planning and managing schedule, staffing, cost, and risks.

• Experience with all stages of FPGA and/or ASIC development, including requirements management, RTL design, synthesis, timing analysis, and lab bring-up/validation.

Required Skills:

• Strong technical aptitude and leadership skills.

• Deep understanding of FPGA architecture and design tradeoffs.

• Proficiency in VHDL (preferred) or Verilog HDL coding.

• Familiarity with AMD (Xilinx) Vivado or Altera (Intel) Quartus tools.

• Proficient in MS-Project, MS-Word, MS-Excel for project planning and documentation.

• Ability to provide mentorship to less experienced team members.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Flexibility to adapt to changing needs, requirements, and technical challenges in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Matlab and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) fundamentals.

• Software development skills (C/C++).

• Scripting skills (Perl, Python, bash, Tcl).

• Exposure to Design Verification methodologies such as UVM/OVM.

• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required experience level and technical depth in FPGA/ASIC design, combined with management and project planning skills, point to a senior operational leadership role within a specialized engineering function. The emphasis on process improvement and tool evaluation further reinforces the operations aspect.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Candidates are expected to showcase their experience in managing complex engineering projects, particularly those involving FPGA/ASIC development lifecycles.

• Demonstrations of successful team leadership, including team growth, performance management, and mentorship, are crucial.

• Evidence of contributions to process improvement initiatives within engineering teams or programs should be highlighted.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated as a formal portfolio requirement, candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience in:

  • Designing, implementing, and optimizing engineering workflows for FPGA/ASIC development.

  • Establishing and enforcing standards for RTL design, synthesis, and validation.

  • Implementing and managing project plans using tools like MS-Project, demonstrating proficiency in schedule, cost, and risk management.

  • Evaluating and integrating new tools and technologies to enhance design processes and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a leadership role in engineering operations, a candidate's ability to demonstrate tangible improvements in processes, efficiency, and team performance through their past work is essential, even if not formally requested as a "portfolio." This will likely be assessed through interview discussions and behavioral questions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $149,603 - $254,317 per year (Note: This range is based on the provided information and industry benchmarks for similar roles in the specified locations. Actual compensation may vary based on individual qualifications, experience, and local market conditions.)

Benefits:

• Health & Wellness:

  • Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Legal Plan

• Retirement Savings:

  • 401(k) Savings Plan

• Insurance:

  • Disability Coverage
  • Life and Accident Insurance

• Work-Life Balance & Leave:

  • Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Paid Holidays
  • Every other Friday Off (per description)
  • Flextime and Telecommuting options (Hybrid work arrangement)
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Military Leave
  • Bereavement Leave
  • Applicable Federal and State Sick Leave

• Recognition & Perks:

  • Employee Recognition Program (monetary or non-monetary awards)

  • Discounts on home, auto, and pet insurance

  • Other position-specific incentives may be available. Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time) with hybrid flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a management role in a specialized engineering field, particularly in the defense sector. The comprehensive benefits package, with a strong emphasis on work-life balance (e.g., every other Friday off, flextime, hybrid work), is a significant draw for operations professionals seeking stability and support.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defense, Aerospace, and Security. BAE Systems is a major international player in these sectors, known for advanced electronics, security solutions, and information technology.

Company Size: BAE Systems, Inc. (U.S. subsidiary) has over 5,000 employees, with the Electronic Systems (ES) division alone employing over 14,000 globally. This indicates a large, established organization with significant resources and complex project structures.

Founded: BAE Systems plc was formed in 1999 through the merger of British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems. The U.S. subsidiary operates as a key part of this global entity.

Team Structure:

• The FPGA Design Manager will lead a dedicated FPGA Design group within the Electronic Systems business area.

• This group likely consists of FPGA/ASIC design engineers with varying levels of experience.

• The manager will interface with multi-disciplined engineering teams, program managers, and senior leadership.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a "customer-first" mission ("We Protect Those Who Protect Us®") and a culture of innovation.

• In engineering, this translates to a focus on delivering high-quality, advanced technology solutions.

• Process adherence and improvement are key, as indicated by the responsibility to "enhance engineering processes" and ensure "consistent application."

• A hybrid work environment suggests a modern approach to work-life balance, encouraging collaboration while allowing for focused, independent work.

Company Website: https://jobs.baesystems.com/global/en

📝 Enhancement Note: BAE Systems operates in a highly regulated and critical industry. The company culture likely values precision, adherence to standards, continuous improvement, and a strong sense of mission. For an operations role, this means a focus on robust processes, risk management, and delivering reliable outcomes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior-level engineering management position, bridging technical expertise with operational leadership. It's a critical "player-coach" role, responsible for both the strategic direction and day-to-day execution of the FPGA Design group.

Reporting Structure: The FPGA Design Manager will report to a higher-level engineering director or VP within the Electronic Systems division. They will manage a team of individual contributors and potentially junior leads. Collaboration will be extensive with program managers, project leads, and other engineering functional managers.

Operations Impact: The success of the FPGA Design group directly impacts the successful development and delivery of BAE Systems' advanced electronic products. Effective management of design processes, resources, and personnel ensures projects stay on schedule, within budget, and meet stringent technical specifications, thereby contributing significantly to the company's revenue and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in cutting-edge FPGA technologies, advanced design methodologies, and emerging hardware platforms.

• Leadership Advancement: Progress to higher management roles, such as Director of Engineering, VP of a larger engineering function, or program management leadership.

• Cross-Functional Roles: Transition into broader operational roles, program management, or strategic planning within BAE Systems.

• Skill Development: Opportunities to lead strategic initiatives, manage larger budgets, mentor multiple teams, and contribute to business development through proposal support.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant opportunities for career progression within a large, stable defense contractor. The combination of technical depth and management responsibility makes it a strong foundation for future leadership roles in engineering operations or program management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as having a "hybrid work format," meaning a combination of on-site work and remote work. This suggests a structured approach to balancing in-office collaboration with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): The primary locations are Nashua, New Hampshire, and Manchester, New Hampshire. These are established hubs for engineering and technology within the region.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration: The hybrid model necessitates intentional collaboration. Expect regular team meetings (virtual and in-person), cross-functional project discussions, and potentially collaborative design sessions in the office.

• Tools and Technology: Access to advanced FPGA design tools (Vivado, Quartus), simulation software, project management tools (MS-Project), and standard office productivity suites will be essential. The role also involves evaluating and potentially implementing new tools and techniques.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with the FPGA design team, other engineering disciplines, program management, and senior leadership will be frequent, both in person and remotely.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours/week) are expected. The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility in terms of where work is performed, but core working hours for collaboration and meeting attendance will likely be established.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment is a key aspect of the role. Operations professionals in such roles need to be adept at managing distributed teams, ensuring seamless communication, and maintaining productivity across different work settings.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: Likely conducted by an HR representative or recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and interest.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: A detailed discussion with the hiring manager focusing on leadership experience, technical background, team management philosophy, and understanding of FPGA/ASIC development.

3. Technical Assessment: May involve a technical deep-dive, potentially including discussions about past projects, design challenges, and problem-solving approaches related to FPGA architecture, RTL design, synthesis, and validation.

4. Peer/Team Interviews: Interviews with other senior engineers or team members to assess technical collaboration, communication style, and cultural fit.

5. Senior Leadership Interview: A final interview with a Director or VP to discuss strategic alignment, leadership vision, and overall suitability for the role and company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Leadership and Process: Since this is a management role, emphasize your experience in leading teams, managing projects, and improving engineering processes.

• Quantify Achievements: Use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your leadership and process improvements (e.g., "reduced design cycle time by X%", "improved team performance by Y%", "successfully delivered Z projects on time and budget").

• Case Studies: Prepare detailed case studies of significant FPGA/ASIC projects you managed or led. Highlight challenges, your approach, the tools and methodologies used, and the successful outcomes.

• Technical Depth: Be ready to discuss your understanding of FPGA architecture, design tradeoffs, and the full ASIC/FPGA development lifecycle.

• Process Improvement Examples: Showcase instances where you identified inefficiencies and implemented solutions that improved productivity, quality, or cost-effectiveness.

Challenge Preparation:

• Leadership Scenarios: Prepare for behavioral questions about how you handle team conflicts, motivate engineers, manage underperforming employees, and make difficult decisions.

• Technical Problem-Solving: Be ready to discuss complex technical challenges you've faced in FPGA design and how you and your team overcame them.

• Project Management: Prepare to discuss your approach to project planning, risk management, resource allocation, and stakeholder communication for complex engineering projects.

• Company Research: Understand BAE Systems' mission, products, and the specific challenges within the defense electronics industry. Articulate how your leadership style and experience align with their values and operational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the management and leadership focus, the interview process will heavily weigh behavioral and situational questions, alongside technical competence. A strong emphasis will be placed on how candidates manage people, processes, and projects to achieve operational excellence.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• FPGA Design Suites: AMD (Xilinx) Vivado, Altera (Intel) Quartus. Proficiency is essential for understanding team capabilities and challenges.

• HDL Languages: VHDL (preferred) or Verilog HDL for RTL design.

• Project Management: MS-Project is explicitly mentioned, indicating its importance for planning, scheduling, and tracking project progress.

• Simulation & Synthesis Tools: While not explicitly listed, familiarity with common tools used in the FPGA/ASIC design flow (e.g., ModelSim, Synopsys, Cadence tools) is implied.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Performance Metrics: Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they track and report on team performance, project status, budget adherence, and risk mitigation.

• MS Office Suite: MS-Excel will be crucial for data analysis and reporting.

CRM & Automation:

• Process Automation: While not a direct CRM role, understanding how design processes can be automated or streamlined through scripting (Perl, Python, bash, Tcl) is a preferred skill, indicating an interest in operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on specialized engineering tools. As a manager, the expectation is not necessarily to be an expert user of every tool, but to understand their role in the design lifecycle, their capabilities, and how to leverage them for optimal team performance and process efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A strong commitment to the company's mission ("We Protect Those Who Protect Us®") and delivering high-quality, reliable solutions for defense and security customers.

• Excellence & Innovation: Driving the "state of the art" in FPGA design by embracing modern tools and techniques, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Integrity & Accountability: Upholding high ethical standards, taking ownership of project outcomes, and managing resources responsibly.

• Collaboration: Working effectively within multi-disciplined teams, sharing knowledge, and supporting colleagues to achieve common goals.

• Efficiency: A drive to optimize engineering processes, manage resources effectively, and deliver on time and within budget.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with various engineering disciplines (e.g., software, systems, hardware), program management, and potentially procurement and manufacturing.

• Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages senior engineers to mentor junior staff and promotes the sharing of best practices and lessons learned across the team and organization.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: While not explicitly stated, BAE Systems' operational environment likely values data in performance management, process evaluation, and strategic planning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission and industry context heavily influence its culture. Operations professionals here will find a structured environment focused on mission success, technical rigor, and disciplined execution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Diverse Technical Needs: Balancing the needs of multiple programs, each with unique FPGA/ASIC requirements, timelines, and technical complexities.

• Talent Acquisition & Retention: Attracting and retaining highly skilled FPGA engineers in a competitive market, especially given the need for security clearances.

• Navigating Hybrid Work: Effectively managing a hybrid team to ensure seamless collaboration, productivity, and team cohesion.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Continuously evaluating and integrating rapidly evolving FPGA technologies and design methodologies to maintain a competitive edge.

• Security Clearance Requirements: Managing a team where personnel may have varying levels of security clearance or require ongoing clearance maintenance.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Technical Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific FPGA architectures, advanced verification techniques, or emerging hardware technologies.

• Leadership Development Programs: Access to BAE Systems' internal leadership training and development programs designed to enhance management and strategic planning skills.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend industry conferences, workshops, and engage with vendors to stay abreast of the latest trends and best practices in FPGA design and operations.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Opportunities to work on diverse projects and collaborate with different business units, broadening understanding of the company's operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of a senior technical management role in a high-stakes industry. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a clear path for career advancement within a leading defense contractor.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Leadership Philosophy: "Describe your leadership style and how you motivate and manage engineering teams, particularly in a hybrid environment." Prepare examples of how you foster collaboration, manage performance, and develop talent.

• Technical Management: "How do you ensure the technical quality and timely delivery of FPGA/ASIC designs for complex programs?" Be ready to discuss your approach to planning, risk management, and quality assurance.

• Process Improvement: "Give an example of an engineering process you improved and the impact it had on your team or project." Focus on identifying inefficiencies and implementing measurable solutions.

• FPGA/ASIC Lifecycle: "Walk me through your experience with the full FPGA/ASIC development lifecycle, from requirements to validation. What are the critical stages and potential pitfalls?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in BAE Systems and this specific role?" Research the company's mission, recent projects, and values. Connect your experience to their needs.

• "How do you handle disagreements or conflicts within your team or with cross-functional partners?" Prepare examples demonstrating your conflict resolution skills.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your experience into key areas: Leadership, Project Management, Technical Expertise, and Process

Improvement.

• Case Studies: Select 2-3 significant projects. For each, clearly articulate:

  • The Project Goal/Context
  • Your Role and Responsibilities
  • Key Challenges Faced
  • Your Strategy and Actions (technical, managerial, process-related)
  • Tools and Methodologies Used
  • Measurable Outcomes and Impact (e.g., schedule adherence, cost savings, performance gains, quality improvements)

• Metrics: Quantify your achievements whenever possible.

• Tailoring: Emphasize aspects relevant to FPGA design, team leadership, and operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviews for this role will assess not only technical knowledge but also leadership acumen, operational thinking, and alignment with BAE Systems' mission-driven culture. Be prepared to provide specific, data-backed examples.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the BAE Systems careers portal.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight leadership experience, FPGA/ASIC design expertise, project management skills (schedule, cost, risk), and any experience with process improvement or team development. Use keywords from the job description like "FPGA Design Manager," "ASIC Development," "Team Management," "Program Execution," and "VHDL/Verilog."

• Portfolio Preparation: While a formal portfolio may not be required, prepare detailed examples of your leadership accomplishments, project management successes, and process improvement initiatives. Be ready to discuss these during interviews, focusing on quantifiable results and your strategic approach.

• Interview Practice: Practice answering behavioral questions related to leadership, team management, conflict resolution, and problem-solving. Prepare to discuss your technical approach to FPGA design challenges and your experience managing engineering lifecycles.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research BAE Systems' Electronic Systems division, its products, its mission, and its values. Understand the context of defense contracting and the importance of security clearances.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.