FPGA Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois
FPGA engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois are concentrated in the Chicago metro, where defense contractors like Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Motorola Solutions have active hardware engineering teams. Rockford and the Route 53 tech corridor add additional opportunities. Illinois employers across aerospace, telecommunications, and industrial automation regularly sponsor H-1B visa and TN visas for qualified FPGA engineers.
Find FPGA Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 4 of 5+ FPGA Engineer Jobs in Illinois with Visa Sponsorship








See all FPGA Engineer Jobs in Illinois with Visa Sponsorship
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new FPGA Engineer Jobs in Illinois with Visa Sponsorship.
Get Access To All Jobs
INTRODUCTION
Cullerton Group is seeking an experienced Senior FPGA / Embedded Linux Engineer to support a leading manufacturer of advanced automated inspection and precision technology equipment. This position focuses on migrating an existing embedded processing and control platform from the Ultra96-V2 development board to the AMD Kria KR260 Robotics Starter Kit. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience with AMD/Xilinx FPGA and SoC platforms, embedded Linux development, and hardware/software integration. Experience migrating FPGA designs and embedded applications between hardware platforms is highly desirable.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the migration of an existing embedded system from Ultra96-V2 to AMD Kria KR260.
- Review and modify FPGA designs, embedded applications, and hardware interfaces.
- Develop, configure, and integrate embedded Linux environments on AMD/Xilinx SoC platforms.
- Develop and debug FPGA logic using VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog.
- Adapt embedded C/C++ applications, Linux device drivers, and hardware interfaces.
- Troubleshoot FPGA, embedded Linux, and hardware/software integration issues.
- Perform board bring-up, system-level testing, and performance validation.
- Identify and resolve compatibility and integration challenges.
- Collaborate with engineering teams and document migration activities and validation results.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 5+ years of experience in FPGA development, embedded systems, or related engineering.
- Strong hands-on FPGA design, development, and debugging experience.
- Experience with AMD/Xilinx FPGA or Zynq SoC platforms.
- Hands-on experience developing or integrating embedded Linux.
- Proficiency in FPGA development tools and hardware/software integration.
- Experience troubleshooting embedded processors, programmable logic, and hardware interfaces.
- Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently on complex engineering projects.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with Ultra96-V2 or AMD Kria KR260 development boards.
- Experience migrating or porting FPGA/SoC applications between hardware platforms.
- Proficiency with AMD/Xilinx Vivado, Vitis, and PetaLinux.
- Experience with VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog.
- Strong embedded C/C++ programming skills.
- Experience with Linux device drivers, Yocto, BSP development, or board bring-up.
- Familiarity with Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC architectures.
- Experience with FPGA-based sensor interfaces, data acquisition, or digital signal processing.
- Background in industrial automation, machine vision, automated inspection, or precision instrumentation.
COMPENSATION
- W2: $75–$100 per hour
- C2C: $95–$125 per hour
- Employment Type: Contract / Project-Based
LOCATION
Location: Chicago, IL (Remote candidates considered)
Apply Today
If you have hands-on experience with AMD/Xilinx FPGA platforms, embedded Linux, and embedded hardware migration, we encourage you to apply or connect with Cullerton Group to learn more.
Hiring #FPGA #EmbeddedLinux #EmbeddedSystems #Xilinx #AMD #Zynq #Vivado #Vitis #PetaLinux #FPGAEngineer #RemoteJobs #EngineeringJobs
FPGA Engineer Job Roles in Illinois
See all FPGA Engineer Jobs in Illinois
Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Search FPGA Engineer Jobs in IllinoisFPGA Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for FPGA engineers in Illinois?
Illinois defense and technology firms are among the most active sponsors for FPGA engineer roles. Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Motorola Solutions, and Cisco have all filed H-1B Labor Condition Applications for hardware engineering positions in the Chicago area. Mid-size semiconductor and industrial automation companies around the Route 53 corridor and Rockford also sponsor, though less frequently than the large primes.
Which visa types realistically apply to FPGA engineer roles in Illinois?
FPGA engineering is a specialty occupation requiring a directly related bachelor's degree, so H-1B is the primary path for most international candidates. Canadian and Mexican citizens who hold an engineering degree can enter on a TN visa under the USMCA Engineer category without going through the H-1B cap. Australians may qualify for the E-3 visa. F-1 students can work via OPT or STEM OPT if their degree is STEM-designated. EB-2 and EB-3 green cards are available for longer-term sponsorship.
Which cities in Illinois have the most FPGA engineer sponsorship jobs?
Chicago and its northern suburbs, including Schaumburg, Lisle, and Rolling Meadows, host the largest concentration of FPGA sponsorship activity, driven by Motorola Solutions, Cisco, and defense contractors. Rockford has a secondary cluster tied to aerospace manufacturing. Urbana-Champaign produces significant FPGA talent through the University of Illinois but has fewer direct employer sponsors, making the Chicago metro the primary target for visa-sponsored roles.
How to find fpga engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate lists FPGA engineer roles in Illinois filtered to employers with verified visa sponsorship history, so you can focus your search on companies that have actually filed for similar positions rather than guessing. Search by city to target Chicago-area defense and telecom firms or Rockford aerospace employers specifically. FPGA roles sit within a narrow set of hardware-focused companies, so a curated board with sponsorship verification is more efficient than broad searching.
Are there state-specific or role-specific considerations for FPGA engineers seeking sponsorship in Illinois?
Illinois has a strong pipeline of FPGA talent from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's electrical and computer engineering programs, which means employers are familiar with sponsoring international graduates from that school. Defense contractors in the Chicago area often require security clearance eligibility, which can affect visa pathways since certain clearances require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. FPGA engineers targeting defense roles should confirm clearance requirements before applying.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored fpga engineer jobs in Illinois?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.