An Aerospace Engineer designs aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft using knowledge of engineering and physics, and tests prototypes to see if they work according to design. May specialize in aeronautical design and work with airplanes and helicopters, or specialize in astronautical design and work with vehicles used in outer space. May specialize in a particular area of design, such as aerodynamic flow or navigation.
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.