The European Spallation Source (ESS) will soon be the world’s most powerful source of neutrons, providing researchers with unique opportunities to explore the structure of materials at the atomic level. Neutron scattering at ESS will address critical questions in physics, chemistry, geology, materials science and life science.
About the role:
As ESS gets closer to it's steady-state operations phase, our Neutron Scattering Systems (NSS) Firmware Team is growing its development capability. We are now looking for a Senior Firmware Developer to help shape the future of neutron detector readout systems at the European Spallation Source.
This is a senior, hands-on technical leadership role focused on FPGA firmware architecture, implementation, integration, and long-term maintainability. You will play a key role in the development of embedded firmware readout chains for neutron detector front-end systems implemented on Xilinx FPGAs and synchronized to a high-precision common time base.
Working closely with engineers across the Detector Group, Experimental Control and Data Curation (ECDC) team, Integrated Control System (ICS) division, IT infrastructure, vendors, and international in-kind partners, you will contribute to the design and delivery of robust, scalable, and maintainable firmware solutions that support world-leading neutron science.
The role is strongly development-oriented, with an emphasis on engineering excellence, technical leadership, and practical delivery rather than administrative overhead. You will collaborate closely with the Firmware Team Lead while maintaining significant technical autonomy and influence over architecture, tooling, verification strategies, and development practices.
Day to day, you will:
- Act as technical lead for firmware development across the neutron detector readout chain.
- Design, develop, test, and maintain FPGA-based firmware solutions for detector front-end systems.
- Develop and maintain VHDL code for Readout Master Modules and Frontend Nodes.
- Drive firmware architecture decisions with a focus on scalability, maintainability, and performance.
- Define and promote best practices for firmware development, coding standards, reproducible builds, and release processes.
- Implement robust verification and testing methodologies integrated into the development workflow.
- Contribute directly to RTL/IP design using VHDL and Verilog.
- Work with Xilinx FPGA technologies, including high-speed transceivers and 10G/100G communication protocols.
- Use development and simulation tools including Vivado, ModelSim, QuestaSim, and AMD Vitis.
- Support practical automation and CI workflows using GitLab CI, scripting, and related tooling.
- Collaborate closely with detector engineers, ECDC, ICS, NITIS, IT infrastructure teams, vendors, and in-kind partners to ensure successful system integration.
- Coordinate technical activities within the Detector Group Technical Section and the Detector Group Support Section engineers and technicians as needed.
- Play an important role in both hot and cold commissioning of new neutron detectors.
- Contribute to troubleshooting, production, testing, and maintenance activities for neutron detector systems.
- Ensure work is documented thoroughly and aligned with ESS engineering processes, safety directives, and professional standards.
- Present technical progress and developments through relevant workshops, conferences, and publications.
This is a permanent role which is based primarily “on-site” at our custom neutron detector laboratory and the brand-new ESS campus in Lund, Sweden.
About you:
For this senior role, we are seeking an experienced firmware engineer with deep technical expertise in FPGA and embedded firmware development, combined with a strong understanding of detector systems and engineering collaboration in complex scientific environments.
We really need someone who can bring a proactive and outcome-focused approach to development and are motivated by solving challenging technical problems through high-quality engineering. Strong communication and collaboration skills, and the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams, are essential prerequisites.
To be successful in this role, we believe that you must have:
- Extensive experience in FPGA and embedded firmware development.
- Senior-level expertise in RTL/IP design using VHDL and Verilog.
- Strong experience with complex FPGA architectures and verification/test methodologies.
- Excellent knowledge of neutron detectors, detector physics, and readout systems.
- Expertise with Xilinx technologies, including Vivado, transceivers, and high-speed communication protocols such as 10G/100G Ethernet.
- Experience with simulation and verification tools including ModelSim and QuestaSim.
- Experience using AMD Vitis and Linux-based development environments.
- Good programming and scripting skills in Python, C++, TCL, and Makefile-based environments.
- Experience with GitLab CI, automation workflows, Jira, and version control systems.
- Strong understanding of embedded systems, data transport, and networking protocols.
- The ability to make sound technical decisions and guide architectural direction.
- A structured and quality-focused approach to development, documentation, and long-term maintainability.
- Excellent communication skills in English.
Experience working in large-scale scientific, research, or high-technology environments would be an advantage - as would the ability to speak additional European languages.
To apply:
Working at ESS gives you the opportunity to contribute to the future discoveries within neutron science at a stunning, brand-new workplace filled with innovative minds and brilliant people from across the globe. We offer market competitive, individualised compensation which is differentiated according to role, responsibilities, individual skills, abilities and achievements as well as monthly pension contributions on top of your salary.
If you see yourself in what we’re looking for, please provide your CV and motivation letter in English . Please be aware that we can only accept direct applications made via the ESS website.
Please note: Due to the ESS summer shutdown period, response times after application submission may be longer than usual.
For further information regarding the position, please contact Talent Acquisition Specialist Daniel Nordin Baker on [email protected]
For trade union information, please contact Unionen representative Nerusha Naicker on [email protected] or SACO/Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers representative Marc Kickulies at [email protected]
URL to this pagehttps://europeanspallationsource.se/careers/vacancies?rmpage=job&rmjob=2010&rmlang=UK
