About us:
CENTUM was founded in 2010 with a clear vision: ‘Flying with a purpose’. We are a team of highly qualified engineers with more than 15 years of experience in the areas of digital signal processing: mobile communications and software defined radio.
Our mission is to design, develop and commercialize mission aircraft systems for the Emergency, Security, Defense and Aerospace markets.
At CENTUM, we believe that human talent is our greatest asset. Our mission is clear: to develop innovative technology solutions that directly contribute to the safety and well-being of people globally. Every member of our team works on projects that save lives and make the world a safer place.
We provide technological solutions that maximize efficiency in operations such as search and rescue, maritime surveillance, firefighting, emergency communications, disaster relief, and border control. Furthermore, we support our customers in integration and throughout the whole lifecycle by a highly qualified engineering team, with the clear purpose of improving people’s lives.
About the role:
We are building a next-generation Software Defined Radio (SDR) platform based on Xilinx RFSoC technology and we are looking for a hands-on Firmware Team Leader to drive it forward. You will own the firmware architecture, lead a multidisciplinary team, and stay deeply involved in the technical work; writing, reviewing, and debugging firmware alongside your engineers. If you have a strong FPGA background and a passion for RF or communications systems, we want to hear from you.
Key responsibilities:
Lead, mentor, and grow a firmware engineering team across the full product development cycle.
Define and own the firmware architecture for the RFSoC-based SDR platform (data path, control path, RF front-end integration).
Hands-on design and implementation of FPGA logic using VHDL, Verilog, and/or High-Level Synthesis (HLS).
Lead the development of embedded firmware running on the ARM cores of the RFSoC (PS side), including Linux BSP and bare-metal drivers, coordinating with embedded software engineer.
Establish and enforce firmware development best practices: version control, CI/CD, simulation, and verification flows.
Plan sprints, track deliverables, manage risk, and report progress to technical management.
Support system-level integration, debugging, and validation in lab environments.
Requirements:
Bachelor’s, master’s degree or technical diploma in Telecommunication Engineering, or a relevant field.
5+ years in FPGA/firmware development (VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog).
Proven experience with Xilinx/AMD tools: Vivado, Vitis, IP Integrator.
Experience designing and integrating digital signal processing blocks in FPGA (filtering, decimation, data paths).
Knowledge of embedded Linux and ARM-based SoC architectures to define requirements, review deliverables, and provide technical direction to embedded SW engineers
FPGA simulation and verification (ModelSim, Questa, cocotb).
Git-based development flows; experience with CI/CD in HW projects is a plus.
2+ years leading or coordinating a firmware or embedded engineering team.
Ability to translate high-level requirements into concrete firmware tasks and milestones.
Experience working in agile or iterative hardware/firmware development environments.
Hands-on mindset — you are still comfortable writing and reviewing code every day.
Soft skills:
Methodical and organized person.
Use to work in a dynamic and flexible environment.
Autonomy and responsibility.
Ability to take on new challenges.
Proactive attitude toward identifying risks and proposing solutions early.
Strong communicator: able to present technical tradeoffs to both engineers and non-technical stakeholders.
Other skills:
Experience with Xilinx RFSoC platforms (RF data converters, PL/PS integration, clocking architecture).
Knowledge of SDR concepts: digital down/up conversion, decimation, filtering, DMA data paths.
Experience with GNU Radio or similar SDR frameworks.
Knowledge of RF/microwave fundamentals (signal chain, noise figure, dynamic range).
HLS (High-Level Synthesis) with Vitis HLS or similar.
Familiarity with Petalinux or similar embedded Linux BSP for Xilinx platforms.
Background in communications, radar, or EW systems.
We offer:
Competitive compensation plan
Full-time, permanent contract
24 vacation days+24th and 31th December
Flextime
Free Friday afternoons and summer afternoons
Flexibility to work some days from home
Other benefits paid from the gross salary (ticket restaurant, transport tickets, nursey tickets)
Permanent internal training + external training
Career progress opportunities
Work with the latest technologies
We value both the growth and well-being of people. In this environment, you will find an atmosphere that supports not only professional development but also work-life balance. We encourage work-life balance and flexibility to adapt to the needs of each team member. From ongoing training to wellness initiatives, we strive to make each person feel valued, motivated and purposeful.
At Centum, equality and diversity are essential values. We are committed to creating an inclusive, discrimination-free workplace where everyone is respected. Each individual’s unique perspective enhances our team, driving a collaborative culture that promotes shared growth and success.
