---
title: 'Senior FPGA Design Engineer at Anello Photonics'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-fpga-design-engineer-anello-photonics-santa-clara-mnk9zj3b2y4y'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Senior FPGA Design Engineer at Anello Photonics

- **Company:** Anello Photonics
- **Location:** Santa Clara, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-06-05
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/anellophotonics/jobs/4687377006

## Job description

## ABOUT ANELLO PHOTONICS:

ANELLO Photonics http://www.anellophotonics.com is a leading-edge technology company based in Santa Clara, CA. The company has developed integrated photonic system-on-chip and AI technology for next generation navigation.  At the core is ANELLO's SIPHOG™ gyroscope, based on its patented photonic integrated circuit technology. The result is a product that is higher performance, much smaller size and weight and power, at a fraction of the cost of traditional gyros used in industrial, aerospace and military applications (SWAP-C). Our products enable reliable and accurate navigation and positioning for manned and autonomous applications, including in GPS-Denied environments. Anello is currently shipping product to a growing list of customers in the Construction, Farming, Trucking, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Autonomous Vehicles, and National Security segments.

## POSITION SUMMARY:

ANELLO is seeking an experienced Senior FPGA Design Engineer to lead new product FPGA-based hardware development for advanced electronic products and embedded systems. This role requires strong expertise in FPGA architecture, RTL design, hardware validation, and board-level product development, including hands-on experience with PCBA design and system integration.

The ideal candidate has a strong background and can lead FPGA and hardware designs from concept through production, working closely with electrical, firmware, software, manufacturing, and test teams to deliver reliable, manufacturable products.

## KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

FPGA Design & Development

- Design, implement, simulate, and debug FPGA solutions using Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL.
- Develop high-performance digital architectures including data acquisition, signal processing, communication interfaces, and embedded control systems.
- Integrate and optimize vendor and third-party IP, perform timing closure, resource utilization, and power optimization.
- Support FPGA bring-up, hardware debugging, and system integration using standard lab instrumentation.

Verification & Validation

- Develop simulation environments and verification methodologies for FPGA validation.
- Perform functional verification, hardware testing, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis.
- Create automated test procedures, validation plans, and supporting documentation.

Hardware & Product Development

- Participate in schematic reviews, component selection, PCB/PCBA development, and board-level architecture decisions.
- Collaborate on high-speed digital design, signal integrity, power distribution, clocking, and EMC/EMI considerations.
- Support prototype builds, manufacturing introduction, and production ramp activities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Work closely with fw, sw, systems, mechanical, mfg, and test engi teams throughout the PLC.
- Develop technical documentation incl requirement/specs, test procedures, and design reports.
- Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, field issue investigations, and continuous product improvement efforts.

## QUALIFICATIONS:

- BSEE or MSEE, CE or related field;
- 8+ yrs of FPGA and embedded hardware development. Simulation, verification, HW debugging
- Strong proficiency in Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL.
- Experience w/FPGA platforms and toolchains ie. AMD/Xilinx, Intel/Altera, Lattice, or Microchip
- Experience with FPGA simulation, verification, and hardware debugging.
- Solid understanding of digital electronics, high-speed interfaces, embedded systems, and electronic product development.
- Experience supporting products from prototype through production.

## Nice to have’s

- Experience with DDR memory, PCIe, Ethernet, USB, SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, DSP, or real-time signal processing applications.
- Experience with embedded processors and SoC FPGA platforms.
- Familiarity with Altium, Cadence Allegro, OrCAD, or similar schematic and PCB design tools.
- Knowledge of DFM/DFT, manufacturing test development, EMC compliance, and production test methodologies.
- Experience with low-power, industrial, or ruggedized embedded systems.

Additional Attributes

- Hands-on engineer with strong FPGA, hardware, and system-level problem-solving skills.
- Excellent troubleshooting and root-cause analysis capabilities.
- Ability to balance technical execution with product goals, schedules, and business priorities.
- Strong communication, collaboration, ownership, and accountability.
- Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. (U.S. citizenship or Perm Residence)

## About Anello Photonics

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: ANELLO Photonics develops the world’s smallest high-precision optical gyroscope (SiPhOG™) and inertial navigation systems that enable autonomy in GPS-denied environments across land, air, sea, and space.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B‑II, Total Raised ~$73.26M as of May 2026)
- **Headquarters**: Santa Clara, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2018 (some sources list 2020)
- **Founders**: Not publicly named; CEO is Dr. Mario Paniccia (former Intel Fellow, Silicon Photonics pioneer)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Defense, Maritime, Aerial (UAV/drone), Ground Vehicles, Robotics, Construction, Agriculture, Mapping & Surveying, Space
- **Target customers**: B2B – defense contractors, autonomous vehicle OEMs, industrial robotics firms, government agencies
- **Mission**: “Democratize access to high‑performance navigation sensors” by making compact, affordable optical gyroscopes available for every possible application

## Products & Services
All products are hardware‑based inertial navigation systems (INS) and inertial measurement units (IMUs) powered by the proprietary SiPhOG™ optical gyroscope:

- **ANELLO X3 IMU**: Ultra‑compact 3‑axis optical gyro IMU for aerial missions (PX4/ArduPilot compatible)
- **ANELLO AERIAL INS**: High‑performance INS for drones and UAVs operating in GPS‑denied environments
- **ANELLO MARITIME INS**: Rugged, high‑accuracy INS for autonomous maritime operations in unpredictable waters
- **ANELLO GROUND INS**: INS for unmanned ground vehicles, trucks, and commercial/defense autonomous platforms
- **ANELLO GROUND IMU**: Optical gyro IMU for robotics and construction autonomy
- **Mapping & Surveying Solutions**: Precise location/orientation data for surveying in GPS‑denied conditions

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding ~$73.26M (includes $25M Series B‑II closed May 2026)
- **Notable Investors**: Lockheed Martin Ventures, New Legacy Ventures, Catapult Ventures, Mana Ventures, IronGate Capital Advisors, MESH, One Madison Group
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Secured $25M in Series B‑II specifically to accelerate production of GPS‑denied navigation solutions (May 2026)
  - 35 issued patents covering interferometry, optical devices, gyroscopes
  - Revenue estimated between $1M–$5M (LinkedIn, 2026)
  - Headcount of 22 employees; 41% yearly LinkedIn follower growth

## Competitive Advantages
- **SiPhOG™ (Silicon Photonic Optical Gyro)**: World’s smallest high‑precision optical gyroscope – combines the accuracy of legacy fiber‑optic gyros with the cost/size advantages of silicon photonics
- **GPS‑denied resilience**: Core differentiator for defense and autonomous systems where satellite signals are jammed or unavailable
- **Strong IP moat**: 35 patents in optical gyroscope design, bias mitigation, and silicon photonics
- **Key strategic partner**: Lockheed Martin Ventures as an investor opens doors to defense contracts

## Strategic Focus
- **Scale production**: Use the new $25M round to ramp manufacturing of SiPhOG‑based systems
- **Expand into space applications**: Leverage high‑precision, radiation‑tolerant navigation for satellites and spacecraft
- **Deepen defense and commercial autonomy verticals**: Maritime, aerial, ground, robotics, and agriculture are all active target markets

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Small, collaborative team (22 people) where founders are actively engaged; described as “creative and collaborative self‑starters” with a passion for pushing boundaries
- **Compensation**: Competitive salary, appreciating equity, fully paid health/dental insurance for employee and family, plus matching 401k
- **Location**: Santa Clara, CA (Silicon Valley) – on‑site presence expected
- **Visa restrictions**: Candidates must be US Persons (US Permanent Residents or US Citizens); no visa sponsorship implied
- **Engineering focus**: High concentration of technical talent (17 of 22 employees in technical roles) – strong hands‑on hacking culture
- **Current openings** (as of mid‑2026): Embedded Device Firmware Engineer, Senior Electrical Engineer, Field Applications Engineer, Senior Photonics Engineer, Senior FPGA Design Engineer, Senior Director Business Development (Government/Defense)

## Sources
1. [anellophotonics.com](https://www.anellophotonics.com/)
2. [anellophotonics.com – Careers](https://www.anellophotonics.com/careers)
3. [anellophotonics.com – Team](https://www.anellophotonics.com/company1)
4. [cbinsights.com – Anello Photonics](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/anello-photonics)
5. [linkedin.com – Anello Photonics](https://www.linkedin.com/company/anellophotonics)

## Other roles at Anello Photonics

- [Senior Opto-Mechanical Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-opto-mechanical-design-engineer-anello-photonics-santa-clara-6kk6gh897cqt) — Santa Clara, CA
- [Sr Photonics Engineer (PIC)](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-photonics-engineer-pic-anello-photonics-santa-clara-ab0ppty2rej9) — Santa Clara, CA
- [Sr Director Business Development - Defense/Government Programs (Autonomy & Navigation Systems)](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-director-business-development-defense-government-programs-autonomy-kt1v6pdzgn0n) — Santa Clara CA Washington District of Columbia, United States
- [Senior Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-systems-engineer-anello-photonics-santa-clara-tjyx2nfns3gc) — Santa Clara, CA
- [Field Application Engineer, Autonomous/Navigation](https://feeny.ai/job/field-application-engineer-autonomous-navigation-anello-photonics-santa-clara-y88e993pq9r8) — Santa Clara, CA
- [Electrical Engineer (HW Systems)](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-engineer-hw-systems-anello-photonics-santa-clara-w1f5ttg191xq) — Santa Clara, CA
- [Senior FPGA Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-fpga-design-engineer-hpr-needham-960g3zdyvr5x) — Needham, MA