--- title: 'Sr. FPGA Design Engineer, Radar at Reliable Robotics Corporation' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/sr-fpga-design-engineer-radar-reliable-robotics-corporation-seattle-2bjdwcymvw46' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-13' --- # Sr. FPGA Design Engineer, Radar at Reliable Robotics Corporation - **Company:** [Reliable Robotics Corporation](https://feeny.ai/companies/reliable-robotics-corporation) - **Location:** Seattle, WA - **Compensation:** $215k–$300k - **Employment:** full-time - **Posted:** 2026-09-02 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-13 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/reliable-robotics/a7bd72ce-4217-4a48-8845-9ceea8690880/application **Skills:** FPGA digital logic design, FPGA simulation, FPGA synthesis, Full-cycle electronics hardware development, Safety-critical FPGA development (DO-254 level A/B or equivalent), Fixed point DSP algorithm architecture, Agile/iterative development life cycle > The Senior FPGA Design Engineer joins the Embedded Systems team to own firmware and software for aviation autonomy stacks. Responsibilities include FPGA requirements, design, simulation, code synthesis, hardware integration, and test support to enable flight computers and RADAR systems. ## Job description We're building safety-enhancing technology for aviation that will save lives. Automated aviation systems will enable a future where air transportation is safer, more convenient and fundamentally transformative to the way goods — and eventually people — move around the planet. We are a team of mission-driven engineers with experience across aerospace, robotics and self-driving cars working to make this future a reality. As a Sr. FPGA Design Engineer at Reliable Robotics you will be a part of the FPGA team which owns the firmware at the heart of the Reliable Robotics phased array radar. Phased array radar systems have historically been reserved for specialized applications, but we’re making this technology affordable to enable Detect and Avoid for widespread commercial applications. This role will focus on new advanced operational modes. The passion for revolutionary technology to make aviation safer motivates us to come in every day. ## Responsibilities In your role as a Sr. FPGA Design Engineer, you will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of the FPGA design including product architecture, implementation, synthesis, hardware integration, and testing for our Air to Air Radar solution. You will coordinate with the avionics and radar teams to establish high-level FPGA requirements as well as hardware/software interfaces. You will be responsible for translating MATLAB algorithms to fixed point VHDL implementations, conducting system architecture performance tradeoffs, and verifying real-time performance. You will work in a collaborative development environment including mutual peer review to maintain high product quality. ## Basic Success Criteria - Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent - 8+ years of full-cycle electronics hardware development experience in a professional environment - Professional experience designing FPGA digital logic using industry-standard design, simulation, and synthesis tools ## Preferred Criteria - Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent - Experience working with RADAR or RF transceivers - Proven track record of product ownership including development and field support - Experience with safety-critical FPGA development (DO-254 level A/B or equivalent industry standard) - Experience architecting, implementing, and verifying fixed point DSP algorithms - Comfortable with a fast-paced, agile/iterative development life cycle - Pragmatic, results-oriented work style FPGA designers at Reliable Robotics have a unique opportunity to work within a vertically integrated technology stack that extends up to the aircraft level, with a direct impact on the aircraft's capabilities and requirements. They execute a focused mission to establish the foundation of Reliable’s technology roadmap. We are a fast-paced team that gets results. With your experience, motivation, skills, and enthusiasm, you'll help the team accomplish amazing things. The position will be located at our facility in Seattle, WA. Must be willing to travel 10% of the time. The estimated salary range for this position is $215,000 to $300,000/annual salary and stock option awards + benefits. At Reliable Robotics, we strive to provide competitive and rewarding compensation based on experience and expertise, as well as market conditions, location, and pay equity. This position requires access to information that is subject to U.S. export controls. An offer of employment will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to perform in compliance with U.S. export control laws. All applicants are asked to provide documentation that legally establishes status as a U.S. person or non-U.S. person (and nationalities in the case of a non-U.S. person). Where the applicant is not a U.S. person, meaning not a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident, (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or not otherwise permitted to access the export-controlled technology without U.S. government authorization, the Company reserves the right not to apply for an export license for such applicants whose access to export-controlled technology or software source code requires authorization and may decline to proceed with the application process and any offer of employment on that basis. At Reliable Robotics, our goal is to be a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, ancestry, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability or medical conditions, national origin, military or veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other basis covered by applicable law. All employment and promotion is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to work@reliable.co ## About Reliable Robotics Corporation ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Reliable Robotics is building a certifiable autonomous flight system to make air transportation safer, more available, and more affordable for cargo and passenger aircraft. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series D) - **Headquarters**: Mountain View, California, United States - **Founded**: 2017 - **Founders**: Robert Rose (CEO) and Juerg Frefel (CTO) ## Core Business - **Primary Industry**: Airlines and Aviation / Autonomous Flight Systems - **Target Customers**: Cargo operators (Part 23), passenger airlines (Part 25), and government/military logistics providers (B2B, Enterprise) - **Mission / Purpose**: “Advanced automation will make aircraft safer, more available, more affordable and fundamentally transformative to the way goods and people move around the planet.” ## Products & Services - **Reliable Autonomy System**: A fully integrated, FAA‑certifiable system that enables gate‑to‑gate autonomous operation – including auto‑taxi, auto‑takeoff, en‑route flight, auto‑landing, and detect‑and‑avoid. Designed initially for Part 23 cargo aircraft and expanding to Part 25 passenger jets. (Type: Hardware + Software + Service) ## Market Standing - **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company) - **Key Metric**: Total funding — $330.6 M (8 rounds, per LinkedIn/Craft) or $303.1 M (per CBInsights); conflicting reports. Last round: Series D (led by Nimble Partners, with participation from Coatue, Lightspeed, UP Partners, and others). - **Notable Investors / Partners**: Coatue, Lightspeed Venture Partners, UP Partners, Pathbreaker Ventures, Presidio Ventures, Nimble Partners. FAA (testing partner). - **Growth Signals**: Headcount of 154 (up ~55% YoY), 65 active job postings (+44% YoY), FAA‑contracted flight testing of its detect‑and‑avoid system, and announced completion of the first FAA‑certifiable system for fully automated operation. ## Competitive Advantages - **Certification‑forward approach**: First system to achieve FAA certifiability for fully automated aircraft operation, a critical regulatory moat. - **End‑to‑end capability**: Covers all phases of flight (taxi, takeoff, route, landing, detect‑and‑avoid), reducing integration risk for operators. - **Top‑tier engineering talent**: Heavily recruits from SpaceX, NASA, Lockheed Martin, and Virgin Orbit, indicating deep aerospace expertise. ## Strategic Focus - **Commercialization for Part 23 cargo**: Near‑term priority to bring the system to market for cargo operators, leveraging existing FAA testing. - **Expansion to Part 25 passenger aircraft**: Long‑term roadmap to serve the passenger airline market. - **Scaling the engineering team**: Growing headcount rapidly (54.7% YoY) to accelerate certification and deployment. ## Why Work Here - **Hybrid workspace**: Employees work a combination of remote and on‑site at the Mountain View headquarters; some roles are in‑office or flexible. - **Engineering‑centric culture**: 48% of employees are in technical roles; strong talent pipeline from SpaceX, NASA, and top aerospace firms. - **Employee rating**: 4.2/5 on Built In (based on 19 reviews), with top marks for Work‑Life (4.2) and Culture (4.1). - **Growth opportunity**: 65 open positions across flight software, mechanical engineering, systems integration, and more – rapid hiring indicates upward mobility. - **Mission‑driven work**: Direct impact on making aviation safer and more accessible through autonomous technology. ## Sources 1. [reliable.co](https://reliable.co/) 2. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/reliablerobotics) 3. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/reliable-robotics) 4. [craft.co](https://craft.co/reliable-robotics) 5. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/reliable-robotics-corporation) 6. [jobs.ashbyhq.com](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/reliable-robotics) (Careers page) ## Other roles at Reliable Robotics Corporation - [Sr. Flight Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-flight-test-engineer-reliable-robotics-corporation-mountain-view-4mqsyc2va4g5) — Mountain View, CA - [Sr. RF Test Engineer, Radar](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-rf-test-engineer-radar-reliable-robotics-corporation-seattle-4fz2frhrqt9h) — Seattle, WA - [Sr. FPGA Verification Engineer, Radar](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-fpga-verification-engineer-radar-reliable-robotics-corporation-seattle-azzwdfj0hbvc) — Seattle, WA - [Sr. Embedded Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-embedded-software-engineer-reliable-robotics-corporation-mountain-view-1ha2x66xzagj) — Mountain View, CA - [Avionics Hardware Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/avionics-hardware-engineer-reliable-robotics-corporation-mountain-view-kv0gkt925e14) — Mountain View, CA - [Simulation and Test Systems Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/simulation-and-test-systems-manager-reliable-robotics-corporation-mountain-view-vrk72nj1wvh5) — Mountain View, CA - [Sr. Electrical New Product Introduction (NPI) Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-electrical-new-product-introduction-npi-engineer-reliable-robotics-s8g5r34dajar) — Mountain View, CA - [Sr. Electrical Engineer, RF](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-electrical-engineer-rf-reliable-robotics-corporation-seattle-fe9a3j83pd6b) — Seattle, WA - [Sr. Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-mechanical-engineer-reliable-robotics-corporation-mountain-view-hn9sar8kksxq) — Mountain View, CA - [Sr. FPGA Verification Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-fpga-verification-engineer-reliable-robotics-corporation-mountain-view-9hmrt1g2zcsf) — Mountain View, CA