FPGA IP Software Development Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 28, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 27, 2026. Altera scores A on the Alion truth index.
Job Details:
Job Description:
Altera is enabling the future of programmable solutions that power innovation across AI, cloud, communications, industrial, aerospace, and defense applications. We are looking for a talented FPGA IP Software Development Engineer to join our engineering team and help develop next-generation FPGA-based platforms and embedded solutions.
Position Summary
As an FPGA IP Software Development Engineer, you will play a key role in designing, integrating, validating, and debugging FPGA-based systems for embedded, networking, and acceleration applications. This role is primarily focused on FPGA RTL development and system integration, including PCIe, High-Speed Interfaces (HPS), External Memory Interfaces (EMIF), and Ethernet IPs.
You will work closely with hardware and software teams on FPGA HW/SW co-development, system bring-up, debugging, and optimization of complex FPGA-based products, including SmartNICs, embedded platforms interacting with GPU and ARM HPS-based solutions.
The ideal candidate has strong FPGA design expertise, experience integrating complex IP subsystems, and an interest in collaborating across hardware and software domains.
Key Responsibilities
FPGA Design & Integration
- Design, develop, integrate, and validate RTL for FPGA-based systems and platforms.
- Implement and integrate FPGA subsystems various I/0 Technologies (PCIe, EMIF, Ethernet & networking IPs) and on-board ARM Hard Processor Systems (HPS)
- Support FPGA system architecture, performance optimization, and debug activities.
HW/SW Co-Development
- Collaborate with software and application teams on FPGA HW/SW co-design and integration.
- Support board bring-up, system-level validation, and debugging.
- Develop software abstractions, drivers, and frameworks that enable FPGA acceleration solutions.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to optimize end-to-end system performance.
Product Development
- Contribute to development of FPGA-based products including:
- SmartNIC solutions
- Embedded computing platforms (Physical AI/Robotics) with GPU
- ARM-based FPGA systems
- Communication and data center acceleration solutions
- Participate in architecture discussions and technical reviews.
- Support product deployment and customer-facing technical investigations as needed.
Process & Innovation
- Drive continuous improvement in FPGA development, verification, and debug methodologies.
- Evaluate and adopt new tools, flows, and automation techniques.
- Stay current with advancements in FPGA technologies, networking, and embedded systems.
The pay range below is for Bay Area California only. Actual salary may vary based on a number of factors including job location, job-related knowledge, skills, experiences, trainings, etc. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance.
$133.2K - $212.7K USD
We use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for the position. Applicants must be eligible for any required U.S. export authorizations.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, (Masters strongly preferred) Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
- 3+ years of experience in FPGA design and development.
- Strong RTL development experience using Verilog and/or SystemVerilog.
- Experience integrating FPGA IPs such as PCIe, Ethernet, EMIF, and ARM HPS.
- Experience with FPGA system bring-up, validation, and debugging.
- Understanding of FPGA development toolchains and implementation flows.
- Strong problem-solving and debugging skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced development environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with FPGA HW/SW co-development and system-level integration.
- Software development experience in C/C++, Python, or embedded Linux environments.
- Experience developing FPGA-based embedded systems or SmartNIC solutions.
- Familiarity with networking protocols and data center acceleration architectures.
- Experience with FPGA acceleration frameworks and software abstractions.
- Prior research or industry experience in FPGA-based acceleration, embedded systems, communications, robotics, or AI/GPU applications.
- Experience working within a semiconductor or programmable logic environment.
Preferred Competencies
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to bridge hardware and software development teams.
- Excellent debugging and root-cause analysis capabilities.
- Self-motivated with a passion for learning new technologies.
- Strong communication and technical documentation skills.
- Interest in co-development environments where hardware and software are developed concurrently.
Why Join Altera?
At Altera, you'll have the opportunity to help build innovative FPGA-based products that power next-generation communications, embedded, AI, and data center solutions. You'll work alongside experienced engineers on cutting-edge technologies while influencing both hardware and software development in a highly collaborative environment.