ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Fpga Contractor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Fermilab

LLRF FPGA Design Engineer

Batavia, IL · On-site

$111K - $146K/yr

What your day-to-day as a Low-Level Radio Frequency FPGA Engineer at Fermilab will look like ... and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign ...

Fermilab

LLRF FPGA Design Engineer

Batavia, NY · On-site

$111K - $146K/yr

What your day-to-day as a Low-Level Radio Frequency FPGA Engineer at Fermilab will look like ... and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign ...

Pae

FPGA Hardware Design Engineer

Hanover, MD · On-site

$122K - $168K/yr

This position is for a team of three contractors that work directly with our customer on custom ... Design, develop, and test FPGA-based point solutions using industry-standard Hardware Description ...

Amentum

FPGA Hardware Design Engineer

Hanover, MD · On-site

$122K - $168K/yr

This position is for a team of three contractors that work directly with our customer on custom ... Design, develop, and test FPGA-based point solutions using industry-standard Hardware Description ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsFpga Contractor Jobs

Fpga Contractor information

See salary details

$85K

$147.3K

$198.5K

How much do fpga contractor jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for fpga contractor in the United States is $147,315.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $130,000.00 and $167,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are FPGA contractors?

FPGA contractors are specialized professionals who design, implement, and test digital circuits using Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) on a contract or freelance basis. They typically work with clients to create custom hardware solutions, often for industries like telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics. FPGA contractors may handle tasks such as RTL design, simulation, synthesis, and hardware verification. Their expertise allows companies to develop high-performance, flexible hardware without hiring full-time FPGA engineers.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an FPGA Contractor, and why are they important?

To thrive as an FPGA Contractor, you need expertise in digital design, hardware description languages (such as VHDL or Verilog), and a strong background in electronics or computer engineering, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with industry-standard FPGA development tools (like Xilinx Vivado or Intel Quartus), simulation software, and sometimes certifications in embedded systems are typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help contractors excel in dynamic project environments. These abilities are crucial to delivering reliable, high-performance solutions on time and ensuring successful client outcomes in specialized hardware development projects.

What is the difference between Fpga Contractor vs FPGA Engineer?

AspectFpga ContractorFPGA Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field; certifications are a plusRequires a bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering; often holds certifications in FPGA design
Work EnvironmentContract-based, often project-specific, working on-site or remotelyFull-time employment, usually in an office or lab setting
Industry UsageCommon in industries needing flexible, short-term FPGA expertise like defense, aerospace, or tech startupsStandard role in electronics, telecommunications, and embedded systems companies

While both roles involve FPGA design and development, FPGA Contractors typically work on short-term projects with flexible arrangements, whereas FPGA Engineers are full-time employees with ongoing responsibilities in their organizations.

What are some common challenges FPGA contractors face when working with new clients or projects?

FPGA contractors often encounter challenges such as adapting to different toolchains, integrating with unfamiliar development processes, and quickly understanding existing codebases or hardware architectures. Because FPGA projects can vary widely in complexity and requirements, contractors must be adept at ramping up quickly and communicating effectively with both hardware and software teams. Additionally, they may need to balance tight project deadlines with the need for thorough testing and validation to ensure reliable designs.
More about Fpga Contractor jobs
What cities are hiring for Fpga Contractor jobs? Cities with the most Fpga Contractor job openings:
What states have the most Fpga Contractor jobs? States with the most job openings for Fpga Contractor jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Fpga Contractor jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Fpga Contractor jobs are:
Fpga Contractor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Fpga Contractor job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 71% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 21% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,315 per year, or $70.8 per hour.
Senior FPGA / RTL Design Engineer - Signal Processing

Senior FPGA / RTL Design Engineer - Signal Processing

Silvus Technologies

Irvine, CA • On-site

$125K - $195K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

THE COMPANY
Silvus Technologies, a leading provider of advanced MANET and MIMO communications systems, is reshaping mesh network technology for mission-critical applications - on the ground, in the air and at sea. Its battle-proven StreamCaster family of MANET radios and proprietary MN-MIMO waveform provides the vital communications link for defense, law enforcement and public safety agencies around the world, and in the toughest operational environments.
With deep roots in DARPA research, Silvus Technologies develops world-class advanced communications technologies that are reshaping the tactical communications landscape. From pure line-of-sight to extreme non-line-of-sight, Silvus radios form a self-healing, self-forming mesh network, enabling secure and reliable connectivity, including video and high-bandwidth data.
Silvus Technologies is a wholly owned subsidiary of Motorola Solutions, Inc.
Would you like to join an incredibly talented group of people, doing very challenging work, with the prime directive of "Keeping Our Heroes Connected"?
THE OPPORTUNITY
Silvus is seeking a Senior FPGA/RTL Design Engineer who will report to the Director of FPGA Engineering on the FPGA Engineering team. The successful individual in this role will participate in all aspects of the research and development process from concept to field deployment. FPGA Design Engineers are responsible for the efficient implementation of novel signal processing algorithms for Silvus' MIMO wireless networking products. In addition, they participate in the support and development of FPGA-based designs for our advanced wireless systems R&D. These are exciting projects aimed at addressing challenging real-world communication needs.
This position is on a hybrid schedule, a minimum of 4 days onsite per week is expected. On-site days are Monday through Thursday. The location for this role is Silvus Technologies' Engineering and R&D Office in Irvine, CA, near the vibrant Irvine Spectrum.
The following is a list of at least some of the current essential job functions of the position. Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time at its discretion.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Digital design architecting for wireless communication projects.
  • Fixed point design of signal processing blocks while working with systems engineers.
  • RTL coding, simulation, and test bench development.
  • FPGA synthesis and timing closure.
  • Hardware verification and troubleshooting; familiarity with logic analyzers.
  • Provide support to the RF and Software Engineering teams.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields.
  • Minimum 6 years of demonstrated experience in FPGA design; 4 years of FPGA design experience with a Master of Science degree; 2 years of FPGA design experience with a PhD.
  • Demonstrated experience with fixed point binary arithmetic and digital signal processing designs.
  • Proven expertise working with multiple clock-domain, high-utilization FPGA designs.
  • Experience with Xilinx FPGAs, SoCs, and the Vivado IDE.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizendue to clients under U.S. government contracts
  • All employment is contingent upon the successful clearance of a background check.

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
  • Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (MSEE).
  • Experience using MATLAB.
  • Experience with communication systems on FPGA or ASIC designs.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Office environment.
  • Occasional exposure to heat, cold, and allergens while performing tests or demonstrations in the field.
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to do the following:
    • Lift equipment up to 20 lbs. for the set-up of demonstrations and testing.
    • Perform bending and reaching movements to place items on lower and higher shelves.
    • Kneeling or squatting to access lower shelves.
    • Walking/Moving in the labs

COMPENSATION
The pay range is NOT a guarantee. It is based on market research and peer data, and will vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
CA Pay Range
$125,000-$195,000 USD
Consistent with Motorola Solutions values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Pay within this range varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate.
NOTE - As a US Federal Contractor, Silvus Technologies requires that ALL candidates being considered for employment for any position (regardless of level) MUST be a U.S. Person (permanent resident or citizen). Stricter U.S. Citizen ONLY requirements (needed for some Engineering or R&D roles) will be included in the Required Qualifications section of the posted position. This does NOT apply to international positions; only job postings for positions located in the US.
Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally-protected characteristic.
We are proud of our people-first and community-focused culture, empowering every Motorolan to be their most authentic self and to do their best work to deliver on the promise of a safer world. If you'd like to join our team but feel that you don't quite meet all of the preferred skills, we'd still love to hear why you think you'd be a great addition to our team.
We're committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruiting experience for candidates with disabilities, or other physical or mental health conditions. To request an accommodation, please complete this Reasonable Accommodations Form so we can assist you.

Apply