Senior FPGA

Hardware | Full-time · Hybrid | Paris, France

Target start date: Early January 2027

About Qluster

Qluster is a startup developing continuous-variable photonic quantum computers. By prioritizing architecture-first scalability, our ambition is to turn fundamental research into practical technology for healthcare, chemistry, sustainability and various applications.

We bring together physicists and engineers who value curiosity, initiative, and teamwork. Progress comes from open discussion, constructive challenges, and shared ownership of complex problems. Joining Qluster means helping shape both our core technology and the way we work.

Your role and responsibilities

As our Senior FPGA & Real-Time Control Engineer, you will develop the real-time digital core of our Quantum Reservoir Computing (QRC) prototypes and help define the fast-control architecture of our universal fault tolerant quantum computing (uFTQC) platform. Working closely with quantum scientists, optical engineers, analogue electronics engineers and software developers, you will translate experimental requirements into robust FPGA-based acquisition, processing and control systems.

• Define real-time system requirements: translate experimental needs into specifications for sampling rate, throughput, latency, timing accuracy, synchronization and digital interfaces.
• Develop FPGA firmware: design, simulate, implement and validate logic for acquisition, digital signal processing, filtering, synchronization, feedback/feedforward and deterministic data-flow management.
• Integrate data converters and timing: bring up ADCs, DACs and clock-distribution architectures, and validate converter interfaces, data integrity and timing performance.
• Select suitable platforms: assess FPGA SoC and RFSoC solutions, make clear engineering trade-offs and choose architectures appropriate to prototype and product constraints.
• Connect hardware and host software: develop well-documented control and data interfaces with the software team, supporting reproducible experiments and future remote operation.
• Validate performance: build firmware tests, automated test routines and latency measurements; troubleshoot issues across FPGA logic, converters, timing and optical interfaces.
• Integrate laboratory prototypes: participate in optical-table integration and progressively replace laboratory instruments with dedicated electronic modules.
• Prepare rack-level implementation: contribute to the migration toward compact, maintainable and testable rack-mounted electronics.
• Own documentation and interfaces: maintain architecture documents, interface specifications, version-controlled designs and verification evidence.

The role is focused on FPGA firmware, deterministic control, high-speed acquisition and digital interfaces. Low-noise detector design, full analogue PCB ownership, ASIC design, mechanical packaging and overall product integration are handled collaboratively by other specialists or separate workstreams.

Basic qualifications and experience

• A degree in electronic engineering, electrical engineering, embedded systems or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrated ownership of FPGA-based systems from requirements and architecture through implementation and laboratory validation.
• Strong proficiency in VHDL, Verilog or SystemVerilog, including simulation, synthesis, timing constraints, timing closure and clock-domain crossings.
• Hands-on experience integrating FPGA systems with ADCs/DACs, clocking, hardware interfaces and host software.
• Strong foundations in digital signal processing and deterministic real-time data paths.
• Experience bringing up and debugging hardware with oscilloscopes, logic analysers and other laboratory instruments.
• Practical Python skills for test automation, instrument control or data analysis, alongside disciplined version control and technical documentation.
• A sound understanding of digital electronics and signal-integrity principles.
• A systematic approach to problem-solving, autonomy in managing priorities and the ability to make clear engineering trade-offs.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work with physicists and translate algorithms into implementable FPGA architectures.
• Professional working proficiency in English.

Preferred qualifications and experience

• Experience with AMD/Xilinx RFSoC or FPGA SoC platforms.
• Familiarity with JESD204, LVDS, PCIe or Ethernet interfaces.
• Experience with embedded Linux, C/C++ or hardware/software co-design.
• Experience implementing real-time filtering, feedback or feedforward under explicit latency and throughput const