Principal Firmware Engineer (FPGA) (m/f/d)– Medical Devices

In this role you lead FPGA firmware architecture and design for advanced ophthalmic surgical systems, ensuring high-quality, regulatory-compliant firmware. You collaborate with system, hardware, software, and verification teams to deliver end-to-end solutions, while supporting modern CI/CD and AI-enabled practices. You drive verification, validation, and quality assurance to sustain safe medical device development. This role offers impact across surgical innovation and cross-functional teamwork in a global ophthalmic leader.

• Lead FPGA firmware architecture, requirements definition, and technical design for next-generation medical device platforms
• Develop and maintain FPGA firmware using VHDL and/or SystemVerilog, including timing-critical video processing pipelines and control systems
• Drive hardware-firmware integration activities and collaborate with system, hardware, software, and verification teams for robust end-to-end solutions
• Define and execute verification and validation strategies, ensuring firmware quality through coding standards, linting, testing frameworks, and quality gates
• Support CI/CD workflows, development automation, AI-enabled engineering practices, and ensure compliance with medical device development processes and regulatory standards

• 7+ years of FPGA and firmware development experience, including at least 2 years in a technical leadership role
• Expert knowledge of FPGA architecture, digital design, and system-level firmware development
• Advanced experience with VHDL and/or SystemVerilog
• Hands-on experience with Xilinx/AMD Zynq UltraScale+ SoC, including AXI interconnect, PS/DDR integration, and Vivado toolchain
• Proven experience leading distributed and cross-functional engineering teams
• Strong understanding of firmware verification, validation, and quality assurance methodologies
• Excellent analytical thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and communication skills
• Residence within commuting distance of Erlangen or willingness to relocate
• Fluent English and intermediate German

• leadership
• communication
• analytical thinking
• VHDL
• SystemVerilog
• Xilinx/AMD Zynq UltraScale+ SoC