Principal Firmware Engineer (FPGA) (m/f/d) · Medical Devices

At Alcon, we are driven by the meaningful work we do to help people see brilliantly. We innovate boldly, champion progress, and act with speed as the global leader in eye care. Here, you'll be recognized for your commitment and contributions and see your career like never before. Together, we go above and beyond to make an impact in the lives of our patients and customers. We foster an inclusive culture and are looking for diverse, talented people to join Alcon. WaveLight GmbH in Erlangen is a world leader in the development and production of innovative laser systems for use in eye surgery. WaveLight's laser and diagnostic systems enable highly precise and minimally invasive correction of refractive errors.

Since 2009, WaveLight has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Alcon, a leading global ophthalmic company.As a Principal Firmware Engineer (FPGA) (m/f/d) supporting our Surgical R&D Engineering Organization, you will lead the architecture, development, and validation of FPGA-based firmware solutions for advanced ophthalmic surgical systems in Erlangen, Germany.

You will play a critical role in delivering innovative, high-quality, and regulatory-compliant medical device products that help improve patients' vision and quality of life.In this role, a typical day will include:Leading FPGA firmware architecture, requirements definition, and technical design for next-generation medical device platformsDeveloping and maintaining FPGA firmware using VHDL and/or SystemVerilog, including timing-critical and deterministic logic such as video processing pipelines and control systemsDriving hardware-firmware integration activities and collaborating with system, hardware, software, and verification teams to deliver robust end-to-end solutionsDefining and executing verification and validation strategies, ensuring firmware quality through coding standards, linting rules, testing frameworks, and quality gatesSupporting modern CI/CD workflows, development

automation, AI-enabled engineering practices, and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring compliance with medical device development processes and regulatory standardsWHAT YOU’LL BRING TO ALCON:Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical disciplineResidence within commuting distance of the Erlangen site or willingness to relocateFluent English communication skills and intermediate German language skillsMinimum 7 years of FPGA and firmware development experience, including at least 2 years in a technical leadership roleExpert knowledge of FPGA architecture, digital design, and system-level firmware developmentAdvanced experience with VHDL and/or SystemVerilogHands-on experience with Xilinx/AMD Zynq UltraScale+ SoC, including AXI interconnect, PS/DDR integration, and Vivado toolchain.

Proven experience leading distributed and cross-functional engineering teamsStrong understanding of firmware verification, validation, and quality assurance methodologiesExcellent analytical thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and communication skillsNICE TO HAVE:Experience in regulated industries such as medical devices, automotive, aerospace, or other safety-critical environmentsExperience with Yocto/QNX/OpenEmbedded build systems and Zynq UltraScale+ PS/PL co-development.

Strong understanding of embedded systems and system-level architectureExperience defining firmware strategies and influencing technical roadmapsHands-on experience with complex hardware-firmware integration activitiesExperience developing verification strategies for safety-critical applicationsProven success driving CI/CD adoption, engineering productivity improvements, and development process optimizationHOW YOU CAN THRIVE AT ALCON:Lead the development of innovative technology that enables surgeons worldwide to improve patients' vision and quality of lifeWork with a highly skilled global engineering team while maintaining significant technical ownership and autonomyBenefit from challenging projects, professional growth opportunities, and a collaborative culture focused on innovation and continuous improvementAlcon CareersSee your impact at: ACHTUNG:Wenn Sie derzeit ein aktiver

Mitarbeiter (intern oder extern über Zeitarbeit bzw. Dienstleister) bei Alcon sind, klicken Sie bitte auf den entsprechenden Link unten, um sich auf der internen Karriereseite zu bewerben. Vielen Dank. Stellen Hub – interne Stellenanzeigen für MitarbeiterStellen Hub – Stellenanzeigen für Externe, die derzeit im Einsatz bei Alcon sindSummaryLocation: Erlangen, Germany