Staff FPGA Engineer
Cytek Biosciences Inc
Summary
The Staff FPGA Engineer will lead the architecture, development, integration, and support of FPGA-based platforms used throughout Cytek's flow cytometry and imaging instrumentation portfolio. This role is responsible for defining and implementing FPGA architectures supporting real-time signal processing, image processing, detector acquisition, instrument control, communications, diagnostics, and automated quality control.
Job description
FPGA Architecture & Development
- Lead the architecture, design, implementation, and verification of FPGA-based subsystems using Verilog/SystemVerilog.
- Develop FPGA pipelines supporting real-time signal processing, image processing, detector acquisition, instrument control, and high-throughput data movement.
- Design interfaces to ADCs, DACs, memory devices, embedded processors, PCIe, Ethernet, SFP+, and related hardware.
- Optimize FPGA designs for throughput, latency, resource utilization, timing closure, and overall system performance.
- Establish reusable FPGA frameworks, IP, and verification methodologies to support current and future product platforms.
System Integration & Product Development
- Lead FPGA bring-up, debugging, subsystem integration, and system-level testing activities.
- Translate system requirements into FPGA architectures, interface definitions, and implementation plans.
- Support product development from feasibility and prototyping through verification, manufacturing transfer, and sustaining engineering.
- Troubleshoot complex issues involving detector performance, signal integrity, synchronization, data throughput, and instrument reliability.
- Collaborate with hardware, software, systems, optics, fluidics, and manufacturing teams to deliver integrated instrument solutions.
Technical Contributions
- Drive FPGA architecture decisions across multiple product and technology development efforts.
- Lead design reviews, technical investigations, and root-cause analysis activities.
- Mentor engineers in FPGA design, verification, debugging, and development best practices.
- Evaluate new devices, tools, and interface technologies to support future platform development.
- Serve as a technical resource for complex FPGA and digital-system challenges.
Product Quality & Lifecycle Support
- Develop verification plans, test strategies, and acceptance criteria for FPGA subsystems.
- Support design reviews, risk management, engineering documentation, and change control activities.
- Partner with Quality, Manufacturing, Operations, and Service teams to improve product reliability, manufacturability, and serviceability.
- Support field investigations and continuous product improvement efforts.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline
- 10+ years of FPGA development experience for scientific instrumentation, medical devices, communications systems, industrial systems, or other complex embedded platforms
- Expert-level experience with Verilog/SystemVerilog design and implementation
- Strong understanding of digital design principles including timing analysis, state machine design, pipelining, clock-domain crossing, synchronization, and verification
- Experience implementing digital signal processing algorithms on FPGA platforms
- Experience with FPGA simulation, timing closure, hardware debug, and board bring-up
- Experience implementing high-speed interfaces including PCIe, Ethernet, memory interfaces, and high-speed converter interfaces
- Demonstrated ability to lead technically complex projects and influence cross-functional engineering teams
- Master's degree preferred
- Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Signal Processing, or related discipline preferred
- Experience with flow cytometry, imaging systems, optical instrumentation, or other analytical instrumentation preferred
- Experience with detector interfaces, data acquisition systems, and real-time measurement platforms preferred
- Experience with embedded processors and FPGA-based system architectures preferred
Company overview
Cytek Biosciences Inc is a leading cell analysis solutions company specializing in flow cytometry technology. Headquartered in Fremont, California, the company develops and manufactures innovative flow cytometry instruments, reagents, and software solutions that enable researchers to conduct high-parameter cell analysis. Cytek's proprietary full spectrum flow cytometry technology allows scientists to analyze up to 40 colors simultaneously, providing unprecedented depth in immune cell profiling and cellular characterization. The company's product portfolio includes the Cytek Aurora series, Northern Lights, Orion, and Muse Micro cell analyzers, along with cFluor reagents optimized for spectral cytometry. Cytek serves pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, academic institutions, and clinical researchers worldwide, supporting applications in immuno-oncology, infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases, drug discovery, and genomics. The company is committed to making advanced flow cytometry accessible and affordable while maintaining high ethical standards and fostering a culture of innovation and scientific excellence.