{"id":88182,"url":"https://alion.io/job/general-dynamics-principal-firmware-vhdl-engineer","title":"Principal Firmware (VHDL) Engineer","company":{"id":5754,"name":"General Dynamics","domain":"gd.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/general-dynamics-missions-system-international","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"SmartRecruiters","truth_index":null},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Hastings, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":59200,"max":85000,"currency":"GBP","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":113779},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"DO-254","optional":false},{"name":"VHDL","optional":false},{"name":"Xilinx Vivado","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-19T13:47:34Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-19","last_verified_at":"2026-10-22T11:41:54Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":63,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":63},"description":"General Dynamics Mission Systems engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of more than 13,000 top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defence and scientific arenas. In the UK, we are leading the way in avionics and communication systems. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency.\nGeneral Dynamics in St Leonards-on-Sea currently provide avionic mission computing systems for a wide range of military fast jets, helicopters, and UAV’s. Recent success has resulted in General Dynamics developing the next generation of Advanced High Performance, Safety Critical Mission Computer Systems to meet the needs of latest platforms in development by several aircraft manufacturers. These Mission Computing Systems provide the functionality that integrates aircraft systems, sensor systems and stores management systems with the information and control systems required by the aircrew to meet the demanding operational needs of these aircraft.\n This role is for a Principal Firmware (VHDL) Engineer who is looking to apply their experience in a new and challenging environment, working across the full development lifecycle on existing and new programmes.\nWhile primarily working on defence products and contracts, candidates with domain experience in adjacent areas are encouraged to apply for this role. Working within a team environment the candidate will be able to use their technical knowledge, decision making and interpersonal skills to achieve the project goals.\nThe successful candidate will pro-actively contribute to product development and advancing the skills and capabilities of GDMS-UK engineering. The role involves a range of activities, including:\nFirmware development and verification, primarily VHDL\nAdherence to RTCA/DO-254 and other applicable standards\nLead internal and external firmware design reviews throughout the development life-cycle\nSupport system architecture discussions where the firmware is a key component of the system\nClick here for the full job description\n Essential Qualifications:\nDegree in relevant engineering field or equivalent experience\nExtensive experience in FPGA design and implementation, primarily using XILINX SoCs and MicroSemi FPGAs\nProficiency in VHDL, simulation tools, and verification test bench generation\nExpert knowledge of XILINX Vivado toolset and supporting tools\nUnderstanding of requirements capture, work package definition, and effort estimation\nStrong problem-solving skills and ability to lead firmware design reviews\nDesirable Qualifications:\nExperience with 3rd party IP cores and MicroSemi Libero toolset\nFamiliarity with RTCA/DO-254 development guidelines\nExperience in video interfaces, processing, and standards\nExperience working with or familiarity with AI/ML models is preferred\nThe ideal candidate will demonstrate high levels of motivation, integrity, and professionalism, as well as flexibility, innovation, and commitment to delivery.\nProfessional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng or equivalent) is desirable, but not essential. GDMS-UK actively support employees in attaining CEng status.\n This role has a salary of between £59,200 and £85,000 plus our flexible benefits package.\nWe are open to this role being spent with time working from home and in the office (hybrid - typically 3 days working in office) on a weekly basis or fully in our offices.\nRelocation assistance may be available for qualifying UK based applicants to move closer to our sites.\nWe pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose, offering impressive benefits:\nA compressed nine-day fortnight and compressed hours - which means every other Friday off. \nA personalized career development plan, alongside regular progress reviews - supporting and valuing your progression within the Company. \nA flexible working environment where your contributions are recognized and rewarded with flexible benefits \nWe believe in maintaining a diverse workplace - inclusive of beliefs, cultural background, job experiences, thoughts and ideas. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we welcome you to join our inclusive team!\nOur success is fuelled by our colleagues and the wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills they bring to the Company.\nWe are a Disability Confident Employer, as such we offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job.\nPlease email  if you would like your application to be considered under the DC Scheme.\nAll successful/appointed applicants must be able to obtain a level of UK Security clearance that is appropriate for the role and undertake suitable Right to work checks","description_format":"text","description_chars":4920,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule","Relocation assistance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Naval Systems","Armored Vehicles","C4ISR","Aircraft Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-08-19T13:47:34Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"GB","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"Licensed UK visa sponsor (Skilled Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker)","filings_12m":null,"filings_prev_12m":null,"green_card_filings_12m":null,"median_offered_wage_usd":null,"route":"Skilled Worker; Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker","cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-22T06:27:10+00:00","sources":["UK Home Office: register of licensed sponsors (workers)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":32,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.713,"p_room":0.45,"age_days":63,"expected_fill_days":39,"reasons":["conf:1","velocity","win:tail"],"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":113779,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/general-dynamics-principal-firmware-vhdl-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/general-dynamics-principal-firmware-vhdl-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-22T13:02:16Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":11896,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-23T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":5754},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=5754"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fgeneral-dynamics-principal-firmware-vhdl-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fgeneral-dynamics-principal-firmware-vhdl-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fgeneral-dynamics-principal-firmware-vhdl-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/general-dynamics-principal-firmware-vhdl-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fgeneral-dynamics-principal-firmware-vhdl-engineer"}]}