Senior FPGA Engineer & System Prototyping Lead

About imec Qatar 

Imec Qatar is a new regional office where we drive our mission of pioneering innovative semiconductor solutions that lay the foundation for a smarter, greener, and truly AI-driven future. Specializing in advanced design tools for emerging technologies like silicon photonics and 3D integrated circuits, imec Qatar is at the forefront of chip development. And we're driving the future with intelligent solutions to optimize infrastructure, and deep-tech innovations targeting applications for a sustainable society. 
This is more than just a new office - it's the start of an exciting journey. With the launch of imec Qatar, you have the unique opportunity to join us from day one and help shape the future of semiconductor innovation in the region. Be part of the team from the very beginning, joining us as Senior FPGA Engineer & System Prototyping Lead.! 

What you will do

Join imec's Falcon Research Center in Qatar in a unique dual-impact role as Senior FPGA Engineer and System Prototyping Lead. You will be instrumental in establishing and leading the centre’s FPGA prototyping and system validation laboratory while driving the implementation and verification of cutting-edge RISC-V based compute architectures. 

This is a rare opportunity to build a state-of-the-art prototyping facility from the ground up while working hands-on with next-generation HPC and Mobile SoC designs. You'll define lab infrastructure, establish workflows, and create the foundation for rapid architecture exploration and system validation that will serve the centre for years to come. 

• FPGA Engineering & Prototyping 
  
  • Lead FPGA-based prototyping of RISC-V compute architectures and SoC designs 
  • Implement and optimize complex RTL designs on high-end FPGA platforms (Xilinx Virtex/UltraScale+, Intel Stratix/Agilex) 
  • Develop system-level prototypes integrating processors, accelerators, memory controllers, and interconnects 
  • Create hardware-software co-validation environments for architecture exploration 
  • Design and implement debugging infrastructure, performance monitors, and measurement frameworks 
• Laboratory Setup & Infrastructure Development 
  
  • Design and establish the centre’s FPGA prototyping and system validation laboratory from scratch 
  • Define equipment requirements and specifications for FPGA development platforms, test equipment, and measurement tools 
  • Procure and commission FPGA development boards, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, power analyzers, and supporting infrastructure 
  • Establish laboratory safety protocols, equipment maintenance procedures, and inventory management systems 
  • Design and implement lab network infrastructure supporting high-bandwidth data transfer and remote access 
• Technical Leadership & Collaboration 
  
  • Serve as the technical expert and go-to resource for FPGA design and system prototyping 
  • Collaborate with computer architects to translate architecture specifications into FPGA implementations 
  • Interface with software teams to enable early software development on FPGA prototypes 
• Methodology & Tool Development 
  
  • Establish FPGA design flows, build systems, and continuous integration frameworks 
  • Develop automation scripts and tools to accelerate design iteration and validation 
  • Create measurement and analysis frameworks for performance characterization 

You will be part of imec, and that means… 

You will join a world-class research center in nanotechnology at our brand-new office in Doha (Qatar). You will build a team that shapes technology that will determine the society of tomorrow. Imec is an inclusive employer with an open, multicultural, and informal working environment. We provide ample room for initiative and professional development. 

Who you are

• Required skills 
  
  • MSc in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Embedded Systems, or related field (PhD preferred) 
  • 7+ years of hands-on FPGA design and implementation experience 
  • Expert-level proficiency in: 
    
    • RTL design using Verilog/SystemVerilog or VHDL 
    • FPGA synthesis, implementation, and timing closure 
    • Xilinx Vivado and/or Intel Quartus toolchains 
    • High-speed interface design (PCIe, DDR, Ethernet, SERDES) 
    • Debugging tools (ILA, ChipScope, SignalTap) 
  • Proven experience with large-scale, multi-FPGA system designs 
  • Strong understanding of computer architecture and SoC design principles 
  • Experience setting up or managing hardware laboratories and test infrastructure 
  • Solid scripting skills (Python, Tcl, shell) for automation and build flows 
  • Excellent problem-solving abilities and hands-on troubleshooting skills 
  • Strong project management and organizational capabilities 
  • Excellent communication skills in English 

IMEC and its affiliates will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. IMEC will consider unsolicited referrals and/or resumes submitted by vendors such as search firms, staffing agencies, professional recruiters, fee-based referral services and recruiting agencies (hereafter “Agency”) to have been referred by the Agency free of charge. IMEC will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have a prior written agreement with IMEC, validated by its HR department, in place regarding a specific job opening and allowing to submit resumes.