Great River Technology is seeking a Principal Engineer - Airborne Hardware to lead ARINC 818 design, VHDL and FPGA development, and the hardware lifecycle for airborne avionics. This onsite role in Denver, CO, emphasizes technical leadership, rigorous verification, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver robust, certifiable hardware for demanding aerospace applications.
Compensation & Location
Location: Denver, CO (onsite)
Salary: USD 130,000 - 200,000 per year
Responsibilities
- ARINC 818 Expertise: Serve as the primary technical authority for ARINC 818 design, including Fibre Channel protocols, video formats, timing, and link integrity.
- Architectural definition, detailed design, and implementation of ARINC 818 interfaces for advanced avionics systems.
- Develop and execute comprehensive test plans and procedures for ARINC 818 compliance, robustness, and performance validation, often leveraging custom test rigs and advanced instrumentation.
- Pioneer and refine simulation methodologies for ARINC 818 links, including model development, signal integrity analysis, and performance prediction in complex environments.
- VHDL Development & FPGA Design: Design, develop, and verify complex VHDL code for high-performance FPGAs used in mission-critical aerospace applications.
- FPGA architecture expertise, floor planning, timing closure, synthesis, and place-and-route optimization for challenging aerospace requirements.
- Implement digital signal processing algorithms and video processing pipelines within FPGAs.
- Develop verification environments using VHDL, UVM, or other appropriate methodologies to ensure design integrity and functional correctness.
- Hardware Design Leadership: Lead the full hardware development lifecycle for airborne electronic systems from requirements through production support.
- Analyze power consumption, component stress, worst-case tolerances, and reliability for critical hardware components.
- Collaborate with Systems Engineering, Software Development, and Manufacturing to ensure seamless integration and optimal system performance.
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior and mid-level hardware engineers to foster technical excellence.
- Certification & Compliance: Apply aerospace certification standards and contribute to airworthiness documentation, including hardware design plans, requirements, specifications, and test plans.
- Ensure designs adhere to industry best practices, internal standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Problem solving & innovation: Diagnose and resolve complex hardware issues using advanced diagnostic tools and methodologies.
- Stay current with emerging technologies in digital video, high-speed interfaces, and FPGA technology to drive innovation.
- Propose and implement design improvements for existing products, focusing on quality, cost reduction, and obsolescence management.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- 10+ years of progressive hardware design and development experience in the aerospace or defense industry.
- Extensive experience with VHDL for complex FPGA development in aerospace applications.
- Proven ability to lead technical projects and mentor engineering teams.
- Strong understanding of digital circuit design, high-speed digital interfaces, and signal integrity.
- Proficiency with EDA tools for schematic capture, simulation (ModelSim/QuestaSim, Vivado Simulator), and FPGA development (Xilinx, Vivado).
- Experience with test equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and network analyzers.
- Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a dynamic, collaborative, and highly regulated environment.
Technologies
- VHDL
- FPGA
- Xilinx
- Vivado
- ModelSim
- QuestaSim
- Vivado Simulator
- UVM
- ARINC 818
- Fibre Channel
- Python
Benefits
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Pet insurance
- Professional development assistance
- Relocation assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Company Overview
Great River Technology is a pioneering leader in high-performance digital video and data development tools and services tailored for the aerospace industry. Since 1996, the company has established strategic partnerships with top-tier commercial and military organizations worldwide, including major aircraft manufacturers, defense contractors, and aerospace innovators.
