Senior ASIC/FPGA Hardware Engineer – Cryptographic Systems

Job description

Location: Cambridge, MA Clearance Required: Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance A leading innovator in secure hardware technologies is seeking a Senior ASIC/FPGA Hardware Engineer to architect and implement advanced cryptographic systems.

This role is ideal for engineers with deep expertise in digital hardware design and a strong foundation in cryptography and hardware security.

Role Overview You will lead the design and specification of ASIC and FPGA-based security solutions, translating high-level cryptographic requirements into robust hardware architectures.

Working closely with RTL designers, back-end implementation teams, and systems engineers, youll ensure secure, efficient, and scalable hardware designs that meet stringent performance and compliance standards.

Key Responsibilities Architect and specify secure hardware solutions using ASIC/FPGA platforms Guide RTL and physical design teams through implementation and optimization Collaborate with systems engineers to define documentation, test plans, and software interfaces Design and simulate transistor-level circuits to meet performance, power, and cost targets Evaluate feasibility of complex cryptographic algorithms in hardware Drive technical solutions independently, even with incomplete or evolving requirements Contribute to proposal development and mentor junior engineers Support physical layout, floor-planning, and parasitic-aware simulations Requirements Cryptographic Systems & Protocols Asymmetric cryptography: ECC, RSA Symmetric cryptography: AES, MAC, block cipher modes Protocols: key exchange, digital signatures, key wrap Secure design: memory isolation, secure enclaves Secure protocols: secure boot, attestation, MFA, certificates, key split Digital Hardware Design ASIC/FPGA architecture and implementation RTL development in SystemVerilog, Verilog, or VHDL Translation of system-level requirements into hardware specifications Optimization for performance, power, and area Skills & Abilities Proficiency in integrated circuit design and computer architecture Strong mathematical foundation, including number theory and coding theory Ability to write detailed design specifications and manage small technical teams Excellent verbal and written communication skills Strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving abilities Education & Experience Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering or related field required; Masters preferred 57 years (BS), 35 years (MS), or 02 years (PhD) of relevant experience in ASIC/FPGA hardware engineering Preferred Qualifications Knowledge of post-quantum cryptography (PQC), side-channel analysis, and lightweight cryptography Experience with secure key storage, TRNGs, PUFs, anti-tamper, and TEMPEST techniques Familiarity with NSA/NIST certification processes
Cryptographic Systems & Protocols



Asymmetric cryptography: ECC, RSA
Symmetric cryptography: AES, MAC, block cipher modes
Protocols: key exchange, digital signatures, key wrap
Secure design: memory isolation, secure enclaves
Secure protocols: secure boot, attestation, MFA, certificates, key split
Digital Hardware Design



ASIC/FPGA architecture and implementation
RTL development in SystemVerilog, Verilog, or VHDL
Translation of system-level requirements into hardware specifications
Optimizati
5+ years
Cryptographic Systems & Protocols Asymmetric cryptography: ECC, RSA Symmetric cryptography: AES, MAC, block cipher modes Protocols: key exchange, digital signatures, key wrap Secure design: memory isolation, secure enclaves Secure protocols: secure boot, attestation, MFA, certificates, key split Digital Hardware Design ASIC/FPGA architecture and implementation RTL development in SystemVerilog, Verilog, or VHDL Translation of system-level requirements into hardware specifications Optimization for performance, power, and area Skills & Abilities Proficiency in integrated circuit design and computer architecture Strong mathematical foundation, including number theory and coding theory Ability to write detailed design specifications and manage small technical teams Excellent verbal and written communication skills Strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving abilities Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field required; Master’s preferred 5–7 years (BS), 3–5 years (MS), or 0–2 years (PhD) of relevant experience in ASIC/FPGA hardware engineering Preferred Qualifications Knowledge of post-quantum cryptography (PQC), side-channel analysis, and lightweight cryptography Experience with secure key storage, TRNGs, PUFs, anti-tamper, and TEMPEST techniques Familiarity with NSA/NIST certification processes

Required Skill Profession

Other General