FPGA Design Engineer

About Voyant Photonics

Voyant Photonics, based in the heart of New York City, is transforming machine perception with a new class of LiDAR devices that are compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand and powerful enough to measure range, velocity, and reflectivity with unparalleled accuracy. By leveraging cutting-edge silicon photonic chips smaller than your fingertip, we deliver sensors that are not only revolutionary in performance but also affordable enough to integrate into any system.

Our technology disrupts the status quo of bulky, expensive, and power-hungry LiDAR systems, making high-precision sensing accessible for widespread adoption in robotics, autonomous vehicles, drones, industrial automation, and beyond. With Voyant, the next generation of machines can see, understand, and navigate the world like never before.

Discover how we’re redefining what’s possible by making real products out of cutting edge research in silicon photonics.

Position Overview

You will be responsible for converting raw sensor data into real-time continuous wave LiDAR point cloud images, collaborating closely with algorithm specialists to process and output 5D sensor data for our customers. In this role, you will also serve as a critical liaison between hardware and software, implementing control systems that maintain hardware operations while ensuring the integrity of the sensor data output.

Additionally, you will be creating real-time, efficient digital signal processing algorithms on an FPGA for high-throughput LiDAR sensor data and implementing LiDAR sensor active control systems on an FPGA. You will lead the FPGA development process, including architecture definition, code simulation, RTL development and verification, hardware validation, and final testing.

This position can be remote, but NYC-based candidates may be preferred. If filled remotely, regular travel to NYC will be required.

Key Responsibilities

•  Develop a complex FPGA system for our high-performance FMCW LiDAR sensor.
• Efficiently implement real-time LiDAR signal processing algorithms (FFTs, filters, and peak searches) while balancing performance, utilization, timeline, and cost.
• Design and implement precision timing and control algorithms in the FPGA fabric.
• Drive RTL development and testing for FPGA targets/platforms to support rapid prototyping.
• Create and execute comprehensive test, simulation, and verification strategies for FPGA functionality.
• Advise system and signal processing R&D teams on achievable performance and optimal algorithms given cost and power constraints.
• Collaborate closely with hardware design teams to integrate the FPGA into the larger electronics system.

Required Qualifications

• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering (EE), Computer Engineering (CE), Computer Science (CS), or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of end-to-end FPGA design experience (RTL, simulation, implementation, bring-up, and debug).
• Proficiency in Verilog RTL.
• Demonstrated experience implementing DSP algorithms on FPGAs.
• Expert-level knowledge of the Xilinx Vivado design suite.
• Experience with commercial or open-source HDL simulators (e.g., Modelsim, Verilator).
• Familiarity with digital circuit design and communication protocols (SPI, PCIe, JESD204B/C, MIPI, I2C).
• Experience with board-level testing (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, etc.).
• Strong communication and documentation skills, including system specification authoring and Git-based version control.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with LiDAR, RADAR, cameras, or other sensor systems.
• Proficiency in Python scripting for prototyping DSP algorithms and cross-validating against HDL equivalents.
• Knowledge of fixed-point arithmetic optimization to balance precision and resource utilization.
• Familiarity with high-speed serial transceiver tuning and bring-up on FPGAs.
• Expertise in efficient memory architecture design for DSP data flow.
• Experience transferring FPGA designs to an ASIC for high-volume production.

Benefits package

• Healthcare: Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Time Off: Unlimited PTO and paid company holidays.
• Flexibility: Hybrid or remote work environment with monthly travel for remote employees.