Freeform · Los Angeles
Principal FPGA Engineer
PRINCIPAL FPGA ENGINEER Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the sp...
PRINCIPAL FPGA ENGINEER
Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at
the speed of human ideation. By treating manufacturing as a single integrated system, we unlock a new era of innovation where
complex hardware is designed, built, and scaled without limits.
As a Principal FPGA Engineer at Freeform, you will architect and lead development of our next-generation compute platform, a
distributed system of hundreds of FPGAs orchestrating many dozens of high-power lasers in real time. This is not a standard FPGA
role. You will be pushing the boundaries of what’s physically possible with reconfigurable compute: processing hundreds of
thousands of frames per second through a real-time ML inference pipeline, with latency budgets that leave no margin for error. You
will leverage cutting-edge silicon including the Xilinx Zynq Ultrascale+ MPSoC, and tightly couple FPGA fabric
with state-of-the-art GPUs to build one of the most demanding heterogeneous computing platforms in existence.
We are pioneering the use of FPGAs for real-time machine learning in an industrial manufacturing context, a space where almost no
prior art exists. This is core IP work at the frontier of what FPGA-based computing can do, and it sits at the heart of what
makes Freeform’s technology unlike anything else in the world.
3D printing experience is not required to be successful here - rather we look for smart, motivated, collaborative engineers who
love solving hard problems and creating amazing technology!
Responsibilities:
- Architect a massively parallel, ultra-low latency FPGA pipeline capable of processing hundreds of thousands of frames per
second across a fleet of hundreds of FPGAs
- Lead cross-disciplinary engineering efforts spanning software, electrical, and process engineering to co-develop and
continuously advance FPGA capabilities at the system level
- Design and implement real-time ML inference capability directly on FPGA fabric, one of the most demanding and least-explored
frontiers in reconfigurable computing
- Develop novel RTL components and IP blocks that push the limits of timing closure, resource utilization, and deterministic
latency
- Implement high-performance signal processing algorithms on FPGA, including custom arithmetic, filtering, and feature extraction
at line rate
- Design deterministic, microsecond-precision controllers for high-power laser systems operating under strict real-time
constraints
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or related field
- 15+ years of FPGA development experience in SystemVerilog or VHDL
- Familiarity with Xilinx Vivado/Vitis toolchain development environment
- Experience with high-speed IO, board bring up, and similar hardware-centric FPGA development domains
Nice to Have:
- Master’s degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or related field
- Experience with image processing or DSP
- Experience with Xilinx Zynq Ultrascale+ MPSoC
- Experience with embedded software development including embedded Linux and System on Chip (SoC)-based architectures
- Experience implementing math/advanced computations on FPGAs
- Experience with heterogeneous computing platforms and high-speed data acquisition systems
- Familiarity with C/C++ or other high-level programming languages
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Creative thinker able to apply first-principles reasoning to solve complex problems
Location:
- Based in Hawthorne, our vertically integrated facility brings technology development, R&D, and production together under one
roof. We operate at the center of LA’s deep tech ecosystem, surrounded by some of the most ambitious hardware innovation
happening anywhere in the country.
- Our fast-paced, cross-functional environment is built on close collaboration, and as such, this role requires full-time onsite
presence (five days a week), with very limited exceptions.
What We Offer:
- We have an inclusive and diverse culture that values collaboration, learning, and making deliberate data-driven decisions.
- We offer a unique opportunity to be an early and integral member of a rapidly growing company that is scaling a world-changing
technology.
- Benefits
- Significant stock option packages
- 100% employer-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance (premium PPO and HMO options)
- Life insurance
- Traditional and Roth 401(k)
- Relocation assistance provided
- Paid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays
- Generous Paid Parental Leave and extended transition back to work for the birthing parent
- Free daily catered lunch and dinner, and fully stocked kitchenette
- Casual dress, flexible work hours, and regular catered team building events
- Compensation
- As a growing company, the salary range is intentionally wide as we determine the most appropriate package for each
individual taking into consideration years of experience, educational background, and unique skills and abilities
as demonstrated throughout the interview process. Our intent is to offer a salary that is commensurate for the company’s
current stage of development and allows the employee to grow and develop within a role.
- In addition to the significant stock option package, the estimated salary range for this role is $250,000-$350,000/year. The
upper end of the range is reserved for individuals who demonstrate exceptional experience, deep domain mastery, and a proven
history of high performance and impact.
- Freeform is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity; employment with Freeform is governed on the basis of merit,
competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national
origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or
physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Role
Principal FPGA Engineer
Category
Data/IT
Location
Published
July 9
Deadline
August 17
Source