Hardware Engineer - Aerospace

Company Overview

For more than 60 years, Data Device Corporation (DDC) has been recognized as a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-reliability Connectivity, Power, and Control solutions for the Aerospace, Defense, and Space industries. Our dedication to supplying quality products, on-time delivery, and superior support, has contributed to the success of our customers and the critical missions they serve.

Great River Technology (GRT) located in Albuquerque, NM, a wholly owned subsidiary of Data Device Corporation, is a leader in high performance digital video and data development tools and services for the mil/aero industry. Since it’s founding in 1996, it has developed partnerships with leading commercial and military companies worldwide.

This position is 100% onsite at GRT in Albuquerque, NM.

Due to U.S. export control requirements, this position is open only to candidates who qualify as a “U.S. Person.” This generally includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents/green card holders, and certain protected individuals, including refugees and asylees.

Hardware Engineer (3 – 5 Years Experience)

Role Overview

We are seeking a motivated and skilled Hardware Engineer with 3 to 5 years of experience to join our engineering team. In this role, you will contribute to the design, development, and verification of high-performance digital hardware and FPGA architectures for advanced aerospace applications. You will work alongside senior engineers to implement ARINC 818 interfaces, high-speed digital designs, and mission-critical FPGA firmware.

Key Responsibilities

ARINC 818 & High-Speed Interfaces

• Assist in the design and implementation of ARINC 818 interfaces, including Fibre Channel protocols, video formats, timing, and link integrity.
• Support the integration and testing of ARINC 818 systems using laboratory test equipment and custom test setups.
• Help develop and execute test procedures for compliance, robustness, and performance validation.

VHDL Development & FPGA Design

• Design, develop, and verify VHDL code for FPGAs (e.g., Xilinx) used in aerospace applications.
• Participate in FPGA constraint management, timing closure, synthesis, and place-and-route optimization.
• Implement digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms and video processing blocks within FPGA logic.
• Build and maintain testbenches and verification environments to ensure functional correctness.

Hardware Development Life Cycle

• Contribute to the full lifecycle hardware development of airborne electronic systems, from schematic capture and detailed design through laboratory integration and verification.
• Perform basic circuit analysis, including power consumption, component stress, and worst-case checks under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Collaborate with Systems, Software, and Manufacturing teams to ensure seamless hardware-software integration.
• Perform product configuration management and product lifecycle management
• Support customer system-level integration and troubleshooting

Certification & Compliance

• Assist in generating and reviewing airworthiness and compliance documentation, such as requirements specifications, design descriptions, and qualification test reports.
• Ensure all designs follow internal coding standards, aerospace guidelines, and industry best practices.

Problem Solving & Continuous Learning

• Troubleshoot and resolve hardware and firmware issues using laboratory diagnostic tools (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, etc.).
• Stay current with emerging trends in digital video, high-speed serial protocols, and FPGA technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience: 3 to 5 years of professional engineering experience in hardware design and development, preferably within the aerospace, defense, or high-reliability electronics industry.
• Technical Skills:
  • Solid understanding of VHDL and FPGA development workflows (e.g., Xilinx Vivado).
  • Familiarity with digital circuit design principles, high-speed digital interfaces, and basic signal integrity concepts.
  • Experience using Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools for simulation (e.g., ModelSim/QuestaSim) and schematic capture (e.g. Altium).
  • Hands-on experience with laboratory test equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and multimeters.
• Soft Skills: Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with a collaborative mindset and eagerness to learn from senior mentors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with ARINC 818 or other video standards (e.g. HDMI, NTSC, VGA).
• Experience with scripting languages (such as Python) for test automation and data analysis.
• Prior exposure to DO-254 and DO-160 certification processes.