---
title: 'FPGA Digital Design Engineer at Kepler Communications'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/fpga-digital-design-engineer-kepler-communications-toronto-06zbekgzz5nn'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-17'
---

# FPGA Digital Design Engineer at Kepler Communications

- **Company:** Kepler Communications
- **Location:** Toronto, Canada
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-10-16
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-17
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/kepler/8e3655b5-003e-4ff6-8e0c-bd7b7dae0606

## Job description

Our mission is to provide real-time on-orbit connectivity for critical missions, enabling a new era of data-driven intelligence and innovation. With 33 satellites launched to date, Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation, enabling real-time, continuous space communications while supporting advanced on-orbit compute and hosted payload capabilities.

We’re on the hunt for a top-tier FPGA Digital Design Engineer to develop the next generation of our satellites.

At Kepler, you’ll have the opportunity to work with a small dedicated team of engineers building the Kepler spacecraft. You will be responsible for the design and implementation of FPGA code either with a focus on DSP algorithms to modulate and demodulate signals on board our software defined radio (SDR), or embedded systems interfacing with processors and peripherals. To be effective you will need to participate in all phases of FPGA design flow (Simulation, Synthesis, Place & Route, Timing Closure and Hardware Testing). A good understanding of the intricacies of FPGA development would make a candidate standout.

Option to work from home (100% remote) available.

Key Responsibilities:

- Develop custom IP for new features of the Kepler satellite digital payloads
- Iterate on current DSP and interface designs to improve reliability
- Work with IP core vendors to integrate new functionality into the Kepler designs
- Work with lead engineers in developing the communications and network architecture of our future satellite constellation
- Participate in conceptual design studies of new spacecraft

Required Skills & Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent
- 5+ yr. working experience with FPGA/RTL design
- Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL with the willingness to learn or pivot to SystemVerilog
- Xilinx FPGA(s). Specifically, Zynq and UltraScale
- Solid understanding of timing principles, including clock domain crossing and timing closure
- Strong scripting skills (e.g Python, Tcl, csh/bash, etc.)
- Experience with FPGA tools (e.g Vivado, Quartus), HDL Simulation Tools (ModelSim)

Bonus Points:

- Masters of Science in Computer/Electrical Engineering, or equivalent
- Experience in coherent digital demodulation of waveforms such as BPSK, QPSK, QAM
- Experience with memory mapped interfaces such as AXI, Wishbone, Avalon
- Experience with high-speed transceivers for protocols such as JESD204B, PCIe, SATA
- Experience with Linting tools, Questa Sim or Riviera-Pro
- Experience with Xilinx Versal and RFSoC
- Experience designing printed circuit boards
- Knowledge of radio-frequency electronics design

Kepler Communications is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment, where all employees and customers feel valued, respected and supported. We welcome applications from: Women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, visible minorities, people who identify as LGBTQ+ and others who may contribute to diversification in our workplace.

As part of our commitment to accessibility for all persons with disabilities, Kepler will, upon the request of the applicant, provide accommodation during the recruitment process to ensure equal access to applicants with disabilities. Please contact our People & Culture team, through our Career Page to make your accommodation needs known and we will consult with you to ensure suitable accommodation is provided.

## About Kepler Communications

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Building an internet-for-space communications infrastructure with a hybrid optical and RF satellite constellation for real-time data relay.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C, $92M raised)
- **Headquarters**: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- **Founded**: 2015
- **Founders**: Not publicly disclosed (founded by a group of graduate students)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Space communications / Satellite telecommunications
- **Target customers**: B2B, government (space agencies, defense), satellite operators (LEO and beyond)
- **Mission**: “Delivering on-orbit data at lightspeed… modernize communications to missions in LEO and beyond.”

## Products & Services
- **Kepler Network (Optical Data Relay Constellation)**: A hybrid optical and RF satellite network providing always-available, real-time connectivity for space-to-space, space-to-ground, and air-to-space communications. Supports SDA-compatible optical terminals, IP mesh networking, and hosted payloads. Data throughput up to 2.5 Gbps (Tranche 1), with 100 Gbps planned for Tranche 2.
- **RF Satellite Constellation**: A fleet of 21 RF satellites with proven flight heritage, offering global coverage for mission-critical communications.
- **Hosted Payloads & On-Orbit Compute**: Customers can host payloads on Kepler satellites and leverage on-orbit processing capabilities.
- **Priority Spectrum Holding**: Services that grant operators access to Kepler’s regulatory filings and spectrum rights.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue ~$13M (LinkedIn estimate) | Total Funding >$200M (since 2016)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: IA Ventures (lead, Series C), Costanoa Ventures, Canaan Partners, Tribe Capital, BDC Capital’s Industrial Innovation Venture Fund; partners include Tesat-Spacecom, General Atomics, Cailabs, Space Development Agency (SDA)
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 28.7% YoY to 183 employees; launched first tranche of optical relay satellites (10 satellites) in January 2026; awarded prime position on SDA’s HALO contract (Oct 2024); demonstrated first bidirectional air-to-space optical link (Sept 2025) and space-to-ground optical laser link (May 2025); 39 active job postings (yearly increase of 160%).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Vertical Integration**: In-house production facility for satellite design, build, test, and deployment – rare among commercial space companies.
- **Patented Technology**: Tested and deployed on 33 satellites in orbit, providing proven flight heritage.
- **SDA Compatibility**: Built to SDA optical communication standards, enabling interoperability with any SDA-compatible spacecraft and eligibility for U.S. defense contracts.
- **IP Mesh Networking**: Demonstrated on-orbit networking using standard internet protocols, allowing multiple satellites to communicate over a single ground link.
- **First-Mover in Optical Data Relay**: One of the few commercial operators with an operational optical relay network in LEO.

## Strategic Focus
- **Deploy Tranche 2** (target ~2028) with 100 Gbps optical links, backward compatible with Tranche 1 and supporting both SDA and European ESTOL standards.
- **Expand on-orbit compute capacity** with higher GPU density for edge processing.
- **Grow defense and government customer base** through SDA contracts and international partnerships.
- **Scale the optical constellation** to provide global, always-available connectivity for space missions.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Values drive, empathy, and agility; described as “passionate” and “collaborative” with a focus on making an impact in space communications.
- **Work Model**: Hybrid – full-time regular positions based in Toronto, Ontario. Some roles may require on-site presence for satellite production and testing.
- **Engineering Environment**: Vertical integration means engineers work across the full lifecycle – design, production, testing, and deployment – solving complex challenges in optics, RF, thermal management, and software.
- **Growth Trajectory**: Rapid headcount growth (28.7% YoY) and major contract wins signal strong momentum; 39 open positions across engineering, manufacturing, product, and program management.
- **Hiring Process**: Human recruiters are involved at every step; AI tools assist with initial screening but do not replace human judgment.
- **Diverse Team**: Employees across 10 countries, with a majority in Canada (65%) and growing presence in the US, UK, and Europe.

## Sources
1. [Kepler About Page](https://kepler.space/about/)
2. [Kepler Careers Page](https://kepler.space/careers/)
3. [LinkedIn Company Profile](https://linkedin.com/company/kepler-communications-inc-)
4. [Kepler Jobs on Lever](https://jobs.lever.co/kepler)
5. [New Space Economy Company Profile](https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2026/04/24/kepler-communications-company-profile/)

## Other roles at Kepler Communications

- [Software Engineering Intern (January 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineering-intern-january-2027-kepler-communications-toronto-78211rnfaeje) — Toronto, Canada
- [People & Culture Intern (January 2027) (4 months)](https://feeny.ai/job/people-culture-intern-january-2027-4-months-kepler-communications-toronto-ywchqckwfa3x) — Toronto, Canada
- [Financial Reporting Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/financial-reporting-manager-kepler-communications-toronto-6y9332b8c33s) — Toronto, Canada
- [General Counsel & Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs](https://feeny.ai/job/general-counsel-vice-president-legal-and-regulatory-affairs-kepler-761sg6eq6wv0) — Canada
- [Senior Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-program-manager-kepler-communications-toronto-e8tq2g6avj0q) — Toronto, Canada
- [Senior Embedded Software Designer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-embedded-software-designer-kepler-communications-toronto-9y5r9vdmverd) — Toronto, Canada
- [Senior Infrastructure Security Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-infrastructure-security-specialist-kepler-communications-toronto-v6mkbpwswdpk) — Toronto, Canada
- [Embedded Software Engineering Intern (January 2027) (4 months)](https://feeny.ai/job/embedded-software-engineering-intern-january-2027-4-months-kepler-hztcgp9fr4fn) — Toronto, Canada
- [Program Chief Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/program-chief-engineer-kepler-communications-toronto-q2jd3frjem4g) — Toronto, Canada
- [IT Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/it-manager-kepler-communications-toronto-cyss6exp9q8v) — Toronto, Canada