FPGA Prototyping and Emulation Engineer

CommonAI CIC

. Evaluate proposed AI hardware before it is available as a finished chip .

Posted 10/23/2026full-timeCambridge • United KingdomMid-LevelSenior💰 £60,000 - £105,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in RTL design and FPGA prototyping, with a strong ability to develop and maintain reproducible build flows and collaborate effectively across hardware and software teams. Proficient in debugging and validating designs while assessing platform and toolchain requirements.

Highest-signal resume keywords

RTL DesignFPGA PrototypingVerilogSystemVerilogTiming Verification

ATS Keywords

Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

RTL DesignFPGA PrototypingVerilogSystemVerilogVHDLTiming VerificationScriptingAI Coding AgentsMulti-FPGA PartitioningPerformance Characterisation

Soft Skills

CollaborationCommunication

Tools & Technologies

FPGA ToolchainEmulation Toolchain

Industry Keywords

Digital DesignHardware IntegrationPrototype DebuggingBuild WorkflowsFunctional Checks

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Evaluate proposed AI hardware before it is available as a finished chip
Turn RTL designs into working FPGA prototypes and emulation experiments
Choose an initial design and platform, adapt and integrate RTL, and establish repeatable build, bring-up and experimental workflows
Adapt and integrate RTL for FPGA prototyping or emulation and document prototype changes
Develop and maintain synthesis, implementation, timing-closure and reproducible build flows
Bring up and debug designs, developing tests and instrumentation for functional checks and repeatable experiments
Develop or integrate control, stimulus and data-capture facilities, collaborating with software colleagues on host interfaces and integration
Relate emulation observations to evaluated models, explaining prototype frequency, interface overheads and other limitations
Assess platform, toolchain and hardware requirements and document reusable workflows
Compare observations from FPGA implementation and bring-up with simulator models
Collaborate with hardware, software, simulation colleagues, partners and technology organisations

Requirements

What you’ll need

Hands-on experience taking RTL through an FPGA prototyping or emulation flow and debugging the resulting system
Strong digital-design skills in Verilog, SystemVerilog, VHDL or an equivalent HDL
Practical timing and verification judgement
Experience with a relevant FPGA or emulation toolchain
Scripting experience to make builds and experiments repeatable
Ability to collaborate across hardware and software boundaries and explain conclusions and limitations of prototype experiments
Practical experience using AI coding agents, with judgement to validate generated HDL, scripts and software
Experience with processor or accelerator designs, multi-FPGA partitioning, host interfaces or performance characterisation would be useful
Applicants must be based in the UK; applicants across the UK are welcome

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive salary package, including pension and benefits
Professional development opportunities
Networking opportunities with influential figures from across the tech sector and academia
Frontier models and coding agents with a substantial tooling budget
Collaborative and supportive work environment
Opportunity to have a high impact in a growing organisation
Hybrid working arrangements
Flexible part-time arrangements
Consultancy engagement option
Vibrant office environment a few minutes’ walk from Cambridge train station