European XFEL is an international non-profit company located in the Hamburg area in Germany. It operates a 3.4 km-long X-ray laser, which produces X-rays of unique quality for studies in physics, chemistry, the life sciences, materials research and other disciplines. The diverse scientific facilities at European XFEL enable scientists from across the globe to carry out a wide range of experimental techniques.

For our Fast Electronics team, we are looking for an

FPGA and Embedded Design Developer and Support Engineer (f/m/d)

The Position
The Fast Electronics Team’s, part of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering group, main task is to support the Instrument Groups at the European XFEL in achieving successful experiments. Being responsible for the processing and acquisition of data at a hardware level, from installation/setup of equipment to development of custom FPGA firmware, a professional on this team must be an expert in both hardware and signal processing. Strong communication skills are equally important, with the team frequently collaborating with internal and external groups on how to capture the best performance and results with the available infrastructure.

As an institute at the forefront of scientific research, EUXFEL’s experiment requirements are ever changing and setups are constantly being updated. A strong sense of organization and ability to handle unforeseen requirements late in the design process are consider a must. It is also encouraged to research for new products and/or solutions from external companies and other institutes and how these can be integrated in EUXFEL to overcome current and future challenges in data acquisition and fast feedback systems.

As part of this team you will:

• interface to the scientific instruments to advise on hardware setups and solutions
• install and validate hardware setups in the field
• develop and maintain custom FPGA firmware and embedded software, with emphasis in high-speed interfaces and real-time processing
• carry out simulation, verification and validation
• collaborate with Data Department groups to optimize acquisition and processing of data on hardware and software
• collaborate with companies/institutes for integration of new solutions

Requirements

• Academic degree in Physics, Electronics, Computer Science or equivalent
• Strong experience in FPGA firmware VHDL development, particularly for signal processing, and FPGA IDEs (Xilinx and Intel/Altera)
• Experience in the following fields are considered an asset: MicroTCA standard, HLS, PCB design, dealing with EMI problems, FPGA verification methodologies, Git, Matlab, Simulink, Python, and Linux environments
• Self-motivated and independent worker with a good sense of organization
• Good communication skills, especially in terms of communicating technical aspects is a must
• Good command of English as a working language is a must

For additional information please contact Bruno Fernandes (bruno.fernandes@xfel.eu).

The working place will be Schenefeld, in the Hamburg metropolitan area. General information on working in Germany, the Hamburg area and the European XFEL can be found here.

Our offer
Become part of a vibrant international and multi-cultural team of scientists, engineers, technical and administrative staff. Be involved in cutting edge scientific and technical progress, participate in our international networks, and shape your life upon trust based flexible working times and telecommuting options. Experience our atmosphere of tolerance and respect.

Salary and benefits are similar to those of public service organizations in Germany. In addition European XFEL provides a non-contributory company pension scheme, broad relocation benefits, as well as subsidized job-tickets and meals at our company restaurant. The European XFEL GmbH intends to achieve a widely international staff. Company language is English, non-German candidates hired from abroad receive an international allowance.

Reference number: E-341

Duration: The appointment is initially limited to 2 years, and may, subject to a later decision, become permanent.

Application
Please apply online and provide a motivation letter next to a CV in English, as well as your references and list of publications in one single pdf-file.
The European XFEL GmbH is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and we promote and support diverse and heterogenous teams. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference over other equally qualified applicants.