What led you to pursue FPGA work after completing EE, and how has that decision panned out.

Maciej,

Thanks for asking about FPGA Engineering specifically! I got interested in FPGAs by taking an intro level computer architecture class in college that used VHDL to model the various components (Adders, Multipliers, RAM, etc.). Then, my grad school research was centered around simulating circuits using Verilog. So, I got experience with the FPGA languages but I hadn't gotten a chance to work hands on with them. Fortunately, my position with Nokia has let me do just that! On top of doing design in Verilog/VHDL, I also will do board level testing and debugging by probing signals to make sure the FPGA is behaving as expected in conjunction with the overall system. Another thing I enjoy about my position with Nokia is that I feel like I get to stay well rounded as an electrical engineer - despite specializing in FPGAs, I still get to do things like schematic design, component selection, and hardware testing and validation.

Currently we are still in Murray Hill, NJ for the NYC area, but as you said, there are plans to move to New Brunswick in a few years. (You can learn more about that here: Nokia unveils plans for new state-of-the-art research and development facility for Nokia Bell Labs in New Brunswick, New Jersey technology hub | Nokia). I don't know of any current openings for FPGAs specifically but always keep your eye out on our job postings to see if anything catches your eye!