DCDE jobs in Fort Meade, MD
Digital Circuit Design Engineer (DCDE)
FPGA design, ASIC architecture, HDL development, timing analysis, signal integrity, and digital circuit verification for cleared mission systems.
Apply for this RoleGS Consulting Environment
Designing Mission Capability at the Circuit Level
At GS Consulting, digital circuit design is not isolated lab work. The circuit has to support collection, processing, communications, and mission outcomes under real constraints. Good hardware starts with design discipline and ends with verification evidence.
This role is built for engineers who can move from requirement to architecture to HDL to verification. You will help design digital circuits, FPGAs, ASICs, and board level subsystems that make mission platforms faster, more reliable, and more capable.
The Work
What the Role Looks Like Day to Day
DCDE work often starts with a performance problem that software alone cannot solve. What logic needs to move into hardware? What timing requirement matters? Which interface is risky? What simulation or test proves the design behaves correctly?
A typical day may include writing HDL, reviewing FPGA or ASIC architecture, building test benches, checking timing, debugging logic behavior, evaluating signal integrity, reviewing board level constraints, and coordinating with software and systems engineers on subsystem integration.
Mission and Responsibilities
Core Responsibilities
Our Digital Circuit Design Engineers shape the physical and logical architecture of specialized hardware solutions. Depending on your LCAT level, you will be expected to:
- Execute digital design engineering, transforming complex mission requirements into functioning electronic hardware.
- Design, simulate, and verify complex digital circuits, including FPGA and ASIC architectures for mission systems.
- Write and optimize hardware description languages such as VHDL, Verilog, and SystemVerilog for fast data processing and secure communications.
- Perform timing analysis, logic verification, and signal integrity testing to ensure hardware performs under operational stress.
- Collaborate with Software Engineers, Hardware and Software Analysis Engineers, and systems teams to integrate digital circuits into collection and processing subsystems.
Technical Domains
Required Technical Domains
Successful Digital Circuit Design Engineers at GS Consulting need practical experience across several of the following technical domains:
- Digital design engineering and circuit architecture
- FPGA and ASIC design, simulation, and verification
- Hardware description languages including VHDL, Verilog, and SystemVerilog
- PCB design, layout awareness, and board level integration
- Timing analysis, logic verification, and signal integrity analysis
- Hardware testing, debugging, and digital circuit validation
- Integration with software, hardware analysis, and mission subsystem teams
Preferred Degree Fields
Preferred degree fields include Professional Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Architecture, Computer Science, Mathematics, Hydrology, Geology, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related accredited technical field.
Tools and Mission Context
Verification Is Where Digital Design Gets Real
DCDE professionals work with HDL, FPGA and ASIC workflows, simulation tools, timing analysis, logic analyzers, board level constraints, signal integrity findings, verification results, and subsystem integration requirements. The specific tools may vary. The need for disciplined verification does not.
Strong candidates can explain the design, the timing risk, the verification approach, and the evidence that shows the circuit is ready to support a larger mission system.
Compensation
Estimated Compensation Range
Estimated compensation for Digital Circuit Design Engineer roles ranges from $100,000 to $250,000 per year. Final compensation depends on DCDE level, years of relevant experience, clearance status, technical depth, customer requirements, contract fit, and location expectations.
The range is intentionally broad because this posting covers Levels 1 through 4. Senior DCDEs are trusted with more complex circuit architecture, timing decisions, verification strategy, subsystem integration, and technical leadership.
Qualification Paths
LCAT Qualification Paths
We are actively staffing billets across all four DCDE levels. Relevant experience should connect to digital design engineering, circuit architecture, FPGA work, ASIC design, HDL development, timing analysis, signal integrity, hardware testing, debugging, or verification.
Level 1
- Bachelor Degree plus 2 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 0 years of experience
Level 2
- Bachelor Degree plus 5 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 3 years of experience
- Doctorate plus 0 years of experience
Level 3
- Bachelor Degree plus 9 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 7 years of experience
- Doctorate plus 5 years of experience
Level 4
- Bachelor Degree plus 12 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 10 years of experience
- Doctorate plus 8 years of experience
Career Growth
How DCDEs Grow Across Levels
Growth in this role comes from stronger circuit architecture judgment, cleaner HDL, better timing discipline, deeper verification skill, and the ability to connect digital design decisions to mission subsystem performance.
At GS Consulting, DCDE growth can lead deeper into FPGA and ASIC architecture, secure communications hardware, hardware and software design, systems engineering, mission platform development, technical leadership, or broader mission engineering roles.
Why GS Consulting
A Smaller Team Close to the Hardware
GS Consulting takes a direct approach to cleared mission support. We care whether the person in the seat can reason through the circuit, write clean HDL, verify the design, and help the customer field hardware that actually works.
DCDE work is not generic electronics support. It takes design discipline, verification depth, timing judgment, and the ability to connect circuit behavior to mission outcomes.
Role Questions
Digital Circuit Design Engineer FAQ
What does a Digital Circuit Design Engineer do?
A Digital Circuit Design Engineer designs, simulates, verifies, tests, and debugs digital circuits for mission hardware. The role includes FPGA and ASIC architecture, hardware description languages, timing analysis, logic verification, signal integrity testing, PCB awareness, and integration with software and broader collection or processing subsystems.
What clearance is required for GS Consulting DCDE roles?
GS Consulting Digital Circuit Design Engineer roles require an active TS/SCI clearance. Candidates must also be able to meet customer, contract, and site access requirements for the specific billet. If additional customer screening is required, that will be handled during recruiting rather than posted as public qualification language.
What are the DCDE levels 1, 2, 3, and 4?
DCDE levels reflect increasing experience with digital design engineering, FPGA and ASIC design, HDL development, timing analysis, verification, debugging, and subsystem integration. Level 1 starts at 0 to 2 years depending on education path. Level 2 ranges from 0 to 5 years. Level 3 ranges from 5 to 9 years. Level 4 ranges from 8 to 12 years.
What hardware description languages are useful for DCDE candidates?
Useful hardware description language experience includes VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog, or related digital design and verification languages. Candidates should describe how they used these languages for FPGA design, ASIC work, simulation, timing closure, test benches, logic verification, or high speed data processing.
How is DCDE different from HSAE?
A Digital Circuit Design Engineer focuses more on digital circuit architecture, FPGA and ASIC design, HDL development, simulation, and logic verification. A Hardware and Software Analysis Engineer focuses more on practical prototype assembly, schematic troubleshooting, fabrication support, environmental testing, and quality assurance testing. The roles often work together.
What skills make a strong Digital Circuit Design Engineer candidate?
Strong candidates can design digital logic, reason through timing, simulate and verify circuits, debug hardware behavior, write clean HDL, understand board level constraints, document tradeoffs, and coordinate with software, hardware analysis, and systems engineers to make the digital design work inside a larger mission subsystem.
What does a Digital Circuit Design Engineer earn?
Estimated compensation for GS Consulting Digital Circuit Design Engineer roles ranges from $100,000 to $250,000 per year. Final compensation depends on DCDE level, years of relevant experience, clearance status, technical depth, customer requirements, contract fit, and location expectations.
Are these Digital Circuit Design Engineer jobs onsite?
Yes. These DCDE positions support work in the Fort Meade, MD and Annapolis Junction area. Because the work is tied to cleared facilities, sensitive hardware, mission subsystems, and customer requirements, candidates should expect onsite work rather than a remote arrangement.
How do I apply for GS Consulting DCDE roles?
Use the Apply for this Role button on this page or email your resume directly to info@gsconsultingllc.com. Include your active clearance level, FPGA or ASIC experience, hardware description language background, verification and timing experience, and the DCDE level you believe matches your experience.
Ready to design the circuits?
Send us your resume. Please include your active clearance level, FPGA or ASIC experience, HDL background, verification and timing experience, and the specific DCDE level you are targeting.