Seniorย FPGA Engineerย -ย Quantum Computing Control Systems
Company Overview
Join QuEraย Computing'sย engineering team to develop cutting-edge FPGA systems for neutral atom quantum computers. You'll workย on real-time control systems that manipulate individual atoms with microsecond precision, enabling breakthrough quantumย algorithmsย and applications.
Role Summary
We're seekingย a Senior FPGA Engineer to design, implement, and optimize high-performance FPGA systems for quantum computing applications. You'll work on complex real-time control systems, high-speed data acquisition, and precision timingย systems that are criticalย to our quantumย computer'sย operation.
Key Responsibilities
Core FPGA Development
- Design and implementย System Verilogย modules for quantumย controlย systems including:
- Scheduled multitoneย generators for RF/microwave quantum gates
- Real-time pulseย sequencers for laserย control
- High-speed ADC/DAC interfaces (16-bit,ย 4 samples/clock)
- Hardware-acceleratedย imageย processing for atomย detection
- Develop and maintain Ulti-board FPGA designsย (Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC)
- Implement high-speed serialย interfaces (CoaXPress, Aurora, AXI4-Stream)
- Design clock domain crossing logic with proper CDC verification
- Optimizeย resource utilization and timing closure for complex designs
System Integration & Verification
- Createย comprehensive testbenches using System Verilog and Python (cocotb)
- Develop simulationย models forย quantum control peripherals
- Implement formal verification for criticalย timing constraints
- Designย andย validate real-timeย triggerย and synchronization systems
- Troubleshoot hardware-software integration issues
Performanceย & Reliability
- Optimize data through put for high-bandwidth quantum control signals
- Implement errorย detection andย recovery mechanisms
- Designย robustย clocking architectures forย multi-domain systems
- Develop monitoring and diagnostics for system health
- Ensure deterministic timing for quantum gate operations
Technical Requirements
Essential Skills
- 5+ years FPGA developmentย experience with Xilinx UltraScale+ devices
- Expert-level System Verilog with modern verificationย methodologies
- Experience withย high-speed serial protocols (Aurora, AXI4, PCIe, Ethernet)
- Real-time systems design with microsecond timingย requirements
- Digital signalย processing implementationย in FPGAs
- Clock domain crossing design and verification
- Python programming for test automation and data analysis
Preferredย Qualifications
- RF/microwave systems experience (frequency synthesis, phase-locked loops)
- High-speedย ADC/DAC interfaces (JESD204B/C, RFSoC experience)
- Image processing algorithms (centroid detection, pattern recognition)
- Formalย verification using System Verilog assertions
- CoaXPress or camera interface experience
- AWS/cloud development environments
- Familiar with High Level Synthesis and Vivado block design
Technicalย Stack
- FPGA Tools: Vivado 2022.2+, Vitis,ย PetaLinux
- Languages: SystemVerilog, Verilog, Python, TCL
- Verification: UVM,ย cocotb, pytest,ย formal verification
- Protocols: AXI4, AXI4-Stream, Aurora,ย CoaXPress,ย SPI, I2C
- Boards: Xilinx ZCU102/111/216, RFSoC platforms
- Development: Git, CI/CD, AWS EC2, Linux
Project Examples
You'll workย on systems like:
- Quantum Gate Control: 8-channel RF tone generators with 0.1 Hz frequencyย resolution
- Atom Detection: Real-time image processing atย 1+ Gbps data rates
- Precision Timing: Synchronized control sequences with <1 s jitter
- Data Acquisition: High-speed captureย of quantum measurementย results
- System Integration: Multi-boardย coordination for scalable quantum computers
Whatย Weย Offer
- Cutting-edge technology: Work on the forefront of quantum computing
- High-impact projects: Yourย code directly enables quantumย algorithms
- Technical growth: Learn quantum physics while advancing FPGA skills
- Collaborative environment: Work with physicists, softwareย engineers, and system architects
Success Metrics
- Design Quality: Clean, well-documented,ย and maintainable SystemVerilog code
- Performance: Meeting timing requirementsย for real-time quantum control
- Reliability: Robust errorย handling and system monitoring
- Innovation: Proposingย and implementing improvements to quantum control systems
- Collaboration: Effective communication with cross-functional teams
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's/master's in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or Physics
- 5+ years FPGA development with complex, real-time systems
- Experience withย quantum computing, RF systems, or precision instrumentation preferred
- Strongย problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Excellent communication skills for technicalย documentation and team collaboration
Why This Role Matters
Quantum computers represent the next frontier in computing, with potential to revolutionize cryptography, optimization, and scientific simulation. As an FPGA engineer on our team, you'll build the hardware foundation that makes quantum algorithms possible - controlling individual atoms with unprecedented precision to create the quantum states that power breakthrough applications. Your work will directly impact our ability to scale quantum computers and bring quantum advantage to real-world problems. This is an opportunity to shape the future of computing while advancing your technical expertise in cutting-edge FPGA development.
This role offers the uniqueย opportunity to combine advanced FPGA engineering with quantum physics, workingย on systems thatย operate at the fundamental limits ofย precision and timing. If you're passionate about both hardware engineering and quantum computing, this is the perfect role to advance both your technical skills and career.
Salary is 140,000 to 190,000 We consistently monitor external market data and update base salary ranges accordingly.ย We determine base compensation decisions on several factors, including as geographic placement, role-specific knowledge, skills, and/or experience.ย In addition to our base salary offerings, we also provide equity grants for all new hires.
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QuEra is committed to cultivating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We highly value diversity in our current and future employees and do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.