Application Support Engineer- FPGA Tools

We are recruiting for an FPGA Application Support Engineer on contract working for a leading Defence organisation. The role will be based 2 days per week in theor Stevenage offices and the remainder remotely. (Role will be condensed 37 hours to 4 days)


As an Application Support Engineer specialising in FPGA Tools, you will play an important role in ensuring the smooth operation and optimal performance of FPGA development environments within our organisation. You will bridge the gap between our end-users (FPGA designers, hardware engineers, and software developers) and both our internal IT teams and external software vendors. Your primary focus will be on providing technical assistance, maintaining tool functionality, managing software licenses, and contributing to the strategic roadmap for our FPGA infrastructure.

Responsibilities:
Tool Maintenance & Version Management

• Manage the software versioning schedule for all FPGA toolsets.
• Generate comprehensive discovery and installation documentation for the different FPGA tools.
• Coordinate application upgrades through the company's certification, packaging, and acceptance testing processes.
• Perform regular application maintenance, including installing updates, patches, and debugging procedures to optimize performance.

License Management & Procurement

• Monitor trends in FPGA tool license usage and develop action plans based on current and future demands.
• Proactively propose license procurement and vendor remixes to stay ahead of future company and project needs.
• Execute license demands through effective communication with tool vendors and adherence to company procurement processes.

IT Hardware & Software Coordination

• Act as the primary liaison between end-users and the company's Information Management Teams/Software Vendors for all IT hardware and software issues related to FPGA tools.
• Diagnose and resolve technical issues reported by users or identified through monitoring, specifically relating to FPGA development tools, hardware, and designs.

Strategic Development & Roadmap Support

• Contribute to the development of the IT Hardware and Software Roadmaps for FPGA tools, encompassing infrastructure, IT computing hardware, and applications.
• Gather feedback from users to identify areas for improvement in FPGA tools and workflows, relaying this information to relevant stakeholders.

User Support & Documentation

• Provide expert advice and support to users on best practices for FPGA design, implementation, and debugging.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation, user guides, tutorials, and training materials to empower users in effectively utilizing FPGA technology.

Skillset/experience required:
Technical Expertise

• FPGA Design Fundamentals: An understanding of FPGA architecture, digital logic design, and hardware description languages (VHDL/Verilog).
• FPGA Development Tools: Proficiency in using key FPGA design tools such as Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus Prime, or Lattice Radiant, including their functionalities for synthesis, place and route, timing analysis, and simulation.
• Debugging Skills: Ability to debug FPGA designs using tools like ChipScope or SignalTap, and analyse hardware and software interactions.
• General Technical Skills: Knowledge of operating systems, databases, programming languages, and networking concepts.

Problem-Solving & Communication

• Problem-Solving Abilities: Strong analytical and logical reasoning skills to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues related to FPGA tools and infrastructure.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively convey technical information to diverse audiences, including end-users, IT teams, and vendors.
• Customer Service Skills: Ability to provide helpful, patient, and effective support to users, even under pressure.

Organizational & Process Knowledge

• Technical Documentation: Proven ability to create and maintain clear, concise, and comprehensive technical documentation.