convergentresearch - Convergent Research - Staff Engineer

• Degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a closely related field • Significant hands-on experience developing FPGA systems for complex instruments, embedded platforms, or high-performance hardware applications • Very strong experience with VHDL or a similar hardware description language • Experience working with Xilinx FPGA devices, including development, debugging, and porting between parts or families • Experience with multiple FPGA vendors or device families beyond Xilinx, with the ability to adapt designs across platforms • Strong understanding of FPGA architecture and digital system design, including interfaces, timing closure, memory subsystems, and system-level trade-offs • Demonstrated ability to take ownership of an existing codebase, improve it, and guide its long-term architectural direction • Ability to move fluidly between implementation and higher-level architecture — making good engineering decisions while keeping development practical and forward-looking • Strong debugging skills, with the ability to isolate and resolve issues across FPGA logic, surrounding electronics, and software/hardware boundaries • Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset — you can explain a complex technical trade-off to non-specialists and turn user feedback into clear engineering requirements • Industry or startup experience in instrumentation, embedded systems, scientific hardware, or related high-performance engineering environments — you know how to apply the theory and what it means to build something that has to work reliably • Experience with the hardware side of FPGA systems, including board-level bring-up, signal interfacing, and integration with surrounding electronics • Experience developing custom FPGA boards or FPGA module carrier boards (specification, design, debugging). • Experience with National Instruments FPGA systems and their associated development workflows • Familiarity with high-speed interfaces, data acquisition systems or real-time control in demanding hardware environments • Experience working on systems where FPGA, software, and hardware co-design are tightly linked • Programming ability beyond VHDL — enough to interface with test infrastructure, automation, or diagnostic tooling where needed (Rust highly desirable) • ## Physical Demands • Fine motor skills for operating computers and lab/instrumentation tools • Ability to move light-to-moderate items (typical lab supplies/computers); may include occasional lifting/carrying with appropriate equipment (e.g., carts/dollies, kit)