Solutions Architect, Systems Engineer

Fidus is a global high-tech design firm headquartered in Ottawa, with additional design centres in Kitchener-Waterloo and San Jose. We specialize in leading-edge electronic product development, with hardware, embedded software, FPGA/ASIC, and signal integrity teams working together to design and deliver next-generation products for clients in emerging technology markets.

We are seeking a Solutions Architect, Systems Engineer that will have a critical role in understanding technical project requirements, for existing and potential clients, to assess whether the opportunity will be a good fit. Once an opportunity fit is assessed, the Solutions Architect will be responsible for developing a solution path, preparing an estimate for the work, and highlighting the risks and mitigation strategies.  

At Fidus, you’ll work on high-speed, high-complexity electronic systems, often using emerging technologies before they reach the broader market. You’ll collaborate across FPGA/DSP, hardware, embedded software, verification, SI/PI, PCB layout, and mechanical/thermal design as part of cross-functional teams delivering real products for our clients.

In practice, that means contributing to projects across Communications, Aerospace & Defence, Life Sciences & Medical Devices, Space & Satellite, Industrial Automation, Automotive, and Semiconductor engagements. You won’t be limited to a single product or industry—your work will follow the technology, not just one roadmap.

• →Work directly with potential and existing clients to understand their needs, then develop their requirements;
• →Architect a solution that meets the Client’s needs;
• →Develop a plan, identify risks and mitigation strategies, and estimate the work required, to deliver a client solution;
• →Write the technical content for proposals;
• →Understand and present Fidus’ resource skill capabilities and work approach;
• →Discuss, promote, defend, and, if necessary, refine, the work approach and estimate;
• →Evaluate and understand solutions, to partition programs into logical segments;
• →Undertake project work as required;
• →Assist in identifying and developing new Fidus products;
• →Assist in identifying new areas of investment and research & development.

• Bachelor’s degree in either Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or the equivalent; 
• At least ten (10) years of detailed design experience in one or more of Hardware, Software, or FPGA; 
• At least five (5) years in system-level architecture design, which requires a good understanding of all design disciplines to enable decisions based on performance, cost, and trade-offs; 
• Proven ability to partition a system across FPGA, embedded software, hardware, and mechanical/thermal domains, and to define the interfaces between them; 
• Experience developing system requirements, interface specifications, and performance budgets covering power, thermal, latency, and bandwidth; 
• A working knowledge of high-speed interfaces such as PCIe, Ethernet, DDR memory, and SerDes, including their signal and power integrity implications; 
• Familiarity with component selection, design for manufacture and test, and the cost, supply, and compliance tradeoffs that shape a system architecture; 
• In-lab experience with system bring-up, integration, and debug; 
• Ability to undertake designs with ITAR restrictions or Classified information; 
• Concise communication and writing skills; 
• Excellent listening, understanding, and extrapolation skills; 
• Professional and personable; 
• Enjoys travel, which is anticipated to be up to 6 weeks per year, typically within North America; 
• Proven experience with giving presentations to small-to-medium sized groups.