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Fpga Emulation Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

ASIC Digital Design Engineer Lead

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

Do you want to utilize your engineering background to make big things happen? Can you influence ... Hands-on experience with FPGA emulation, silicon bring-up, characterization and debug.Experience ...

Senior FPGA Engineer (DOD cleared)

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$122K - $157K/yr

Required Skills * 8+ years of FPGA engineering experience. * VHDL coding and digital design ... Experience with emulation platforms such as Veloce. * Strong technical documentation and review ...

Principal FPGA Engineer (DOD cleared)

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$122K - $157K/yr

Secret clearance or higher required prior to start Role Summary Seeking an FPGA Engineer to support ... Experience with emulation platforms such as Veloce. * Strong technical documentation and review ...

ASIC Digital Design Engineer Lead

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K/yr

Do you want to utilize your engineering background to make big things happen? Can you influence ... Hands-on experience with FPGA emulation, silicon bring-up, characterization and debug.Experience ...

FPGA Engineer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$65 - $116/hr

FPGA Engineer with ACTIVE Secret Security Clearance RATE RANGE: $65/hr - $116.00/hr W2 Contract ... Verification utilizing emulation platforms, such as Veloce  Please respond to Meredith Baldwin ...

FPGA Engineer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$65 - $116/hr

FPGA Engineer with ACTIVE Secret Security Clearance RATE RANGE: $65/hr - $116.00/hr W2 Contract ... Verification utilizing emulation platforms, such as Veloce  Please respond to Meredith Baldwin ...

Do you want to utilize your engineering background to make big things happen? Can you influence ... Hands-on experience with FPGA emulation, silicon bring-up, characterization and debug. Experience ...

FPGA Engineer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$90/hr

At Volt, our greatest strength is our people Volt is immediately hiring for FPGA Engineer - TUCSON ... Verification utilizing emulation platforms, such as Veloce. Pay Ra nge: $90.00 - $ 100.00 per hour

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Fpga Emulation Engineer information

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$85K

$147.3K

$198.5K

How much do fpga emulation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for fpga emulation engineer 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.

Will FPGA be replaced by AI?

FPGA emulation engineers work with programmable hardware to simulate digital circuits, a task that AI cannot fully replace due to the need for precise hardware behavior modeling. While AI tools can assist in design optimization and automation, FPGA development and emulation require specialized knowledge of hardware description languages and real-time processing, making complete replacement unlikely in the near term.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior FPGA Emulation Engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills in hardware description languages, and certifications can reach or exceed a $500,000 annual salary, especially in high-demand industries like aerospace, defense, or semiconductor design. Compensation varies based on location, company size, and individual expertise, with top-tier professionals often earning this level through bonuses and stock options.

What is the difference between Fpga Emulation Engineer vs FPGA Design Engineer?

AspectFpga Emulation EngineerFPGA Design Engineer
Primary FocusDeveloping and maintaining FPGA-based emulation environments for testing hardware/software integrationDesigning and implementing FPGA logic for specific hardware functions and systems
Skills & CertificationsHardware description languages (VHDL/Verilog), FPGA tools, debugging, verificationHardware description languages, FPGA tools, digital design, verification
Work EnvironmentTesting labs, hardware labs, simulation environmentsDesign labs, development teams, hardware labs
Industry UsageSemiconductor, aerospace, defense, automotive testingConsumer electronics, telecommunications, embedded systems

While both roles require FPGA knowledge and similar certifications, Fpga Emulation Engineers focus on creating emulation environments for testing and validation, whereas FPGA Design Engineers primarily develop FPGA logic for hardware functions. The roles often collaborate but serve different stages of the hardware development lifecycle.

What are the most common challenges faced by FPGA Emulation Engineers during large-scale hardware verification projects?

FPGA Emulation Engineers often encounter challenges such as integrating complex System-on-Chip (SoC) designs onto FPGA platforms, dealing with resource constraints, and ensuring timing closure. Debugging emulation issues can be particularly demanding, as problems may arise from both the hardware and the original RTL code. Collaborating effectively with design, verification, and software teams is crucial to resolve issues quickly and meet project deadlines. Managing these challenges requires strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt to evolving design requirements.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior FPGA Emulation Engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills in hardware description languages, and proficiency with FPGA development tools can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $300,000 annually, especially in high-demand industries like semiconductor design and aerospace. Compensation varies based on location, company size, and individual expertise, often including bonuses and stock options.

What are FPGA Emulation Engineers?

FPGA Emulation Engineers are professionals who specialize in using Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to create hardware prototypes that emulate the behavior of digital circuits or systems, such as ASICs or SoCs. Their work involves designing, configuring, and testing these FPGA-based platforms to validate chip designs before they are manufactured. This role often requires expertise in hardware description languages (HDLs) like VHDL or Verilog, as well as a strong understanding of digital design and verification methodologies.

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

To thrive as an FPGA Emulation Engineer, you need strong expertise in digital design, hardware description languages (such as VHDL or Verilog), and a solid background in electrical or computer engineering. Familiarity with FPGA development tools (like Xilinx Vivado or Intel Quartus), emulation platforms, and debugging systems is typically required, with some roles preferring relevant certifications. Problem-solving ability, attention to detail, effective communication, and teamwork are standout soft skills in this field. These capabilities are crucial for accurately simulating complex hardware, identifying design issues early, and ensuring successful project delivery in collaborative environments.

Are FPGA engineers in demand?

FPGA engineers are in high demand due to the increasing use of FPGAs in industries such as telecommunications, aerospace, and automotive for tasks like hardware acceleration and signal processing. Skills in hardware description languages like VHDL or Verilog, along with experience in FPGA development tools, enhance job prospects in this field.
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What job categories do people searching Fpga Emulation Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Fpga Emulation Engineer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Fpga Emulation Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 7% Internship, 2% As Needed, 25% Full Time, 56% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 8% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,315 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

$150K - $170K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

Benefits:
  • 401(k)
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off

FPGA Engineers develop & verify designs for all major FPGA vendors and device families including: Xilinx, Altera, and Microsemi.
Designs are implemented using VHDL for the following applications: gigabit serial interfaces, Radio Frequency (RF) and Electro-Optical (EO) DSP, controls, data links, embedded processing and processor interfaces. Designers work with circuit card designers and systems engineers to develop requirements, architect new parts, collaborative modeling of algorithms, code development, simulation, and place and route.
Designs are verified against requirements and design support is expected from requirements definition through integration and test.
Qualifications You Must Have:
  • Minimum 5 years of experience to include at least 1 of the following: Digital design and VHDL coding Xilinx or Microsemi devices and flow tools
  • Delivering FPGA solutions to system level applications
  • Hands on experience with integration and debug
  • Desired FPGA design experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Radar processing techniques
  • Image processing techniques for visual and infrared sensors
  • Embedded systems design using ARM, Microblaze, or Nios processors
  • Gigabit serial interfaces and multi-gigabit transceivers (MGTs)
  • Constrained random verification in UVM using System Verilog Verification utilizing emulation platforms, such as Veloce