VHDL developer/ software engineer

Clearance : SC Cleared, Sole National

Duration : 40 working days

Minimum Requirement:

The role is that of a VHDL Software Engineer.

We require a short-term VHDL developer/ software engineer to assist us in migrating experimental software developed and supplied by one commercial vendor into predefined code structures that will run and operate on the custom developed software defined radio (SDR) hardware and software platform of another commercial vendor.

The custom developed code is defined by two distinct structures and implementations:-

• A VHDL application to support the operation of two high-performance field programmable gate array (FPGA) devices to define RF protocols used to transmit and/or receive radio signals between two devices

• A digital firmware implementation based on a microprocessor that serves as the overarching RF protocol configuration, control, and management interface tool.

The commercial vendor developing the custom software defined radio (SDR) hardware will provide a comprehensive and detailed Interface Control Document (ICD) to support the definition of both predefined code structures, as well as examples of functional executable microprocessor and VHDL code to serve as a template for our migration requirement and for verification purposes.

When required, the commercial vendor will provide a laboratory sized (SDR) hardware development unit to support the verification, validation, and debugging of the migrated VHDL and microprocessor code.

We also require the development of a receive RF protocol VHDL firmware application that will run on an ETTUS 310 commercial SDR platform in order to demonstrate the successful migration of experimental software running and transmitting via the custom developed SDR platform.

The applicant will be required to write up the work undertaken and report on the validity of the provided ICD and provide any recommendations for improvement.

The essential skills and experience we require includes:-

• A VHDL Developer with extensive experience in developing, editing, analysing, debugging, and supervising VHDL-based software.

• Ideally, extensive experience with FPGA software development tools such as Xilinx Vivado ML Edition - 2022.2 and Lattice Diamond is required.

• Extensive experience modelling the behaviour and structure of radio frequency (RF) and digital systems at multiple levels of abstraction, from system to field-programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation.

Previous experience debugging firmware designs and assisting with hardware and system verification and integration.

• Capability to analyse system-level requirements and develop a detailed firmware migration strategy.

• A systematic approach to the entire firmware design lifecycle, using an industry standard structured firmware process.

• Proven experience with firmware migration and design activities, as well as making technical decisions and mitigating technical risk.

• Extensive experience with the lightweight data-interchange format JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) for all aspects of code migration and development.

• Prior experience developing RF transmitter and receiver applications with ETTUS 310 SDR platforms is preferred.

• Proven experience developing custom microprocessor firmware using the C-family of languages, including C and C++

• No formal qualifications are required but evidence of competence and relevant experience is highly desirable.

If you feel you have the skills and experience needed for this role; please do apply now.