# Is FPGA the Best Engineering Career? With Adam Taylor

- Show: [OnTrack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack)
- Published: 2026-04-14
- Length: 36m
- Episode: 338
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-04-14-is-fpga-the-best-engineering-career-with-adam-taylor
- Listen: https://podcast.altium.com/e/is-fpga-the-best-engineering-career-with-adam-taylor/

## Summary

Adam Taylor, founder of Adiuvo Engineering and FPGA Horizons, explains why he considers FPGA engineering a top career choice, citing the evolution of FPGAs from simple glue logic to advanced compute platforms with AI engines. He discusses how modern FPGA tools are more accessible and how AI-driven agentic coding assistants are changing RTL development by acting as a new layer of abstraction rather than replacing engineers. Taylor also details the success of his vendor-neutral conference, FPGA Horizons, and its expansion to the US through a partnership with PCEA at PCB East, highlighting the critical need for collaboration between FPGA and PCB designers to handle high-speed signaling and complex power requirements.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-04-14-is-fpga-the-best-engineering-career-with-adam-taylor#t=0) Introduction: Adam Taylor and Adiuvo Engineering
- [2:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-04-14-is-fpga-the-best-engineering-career-with-adam-taylor#t=123) Adam's Career Path and the Evolution of FPGAs
- [8:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-04-14-is-fpga-the-best-engineering-career-with-adam-taylor#t=492) FPGA Capabilities, AI Engines, and Tool Accessibility
- [12:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-04-14-is-fpga-the-best-engineering-career-with-adam-taylor#t=774) AI in FPGA Development and Agentic Coding
- [16:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-04-14-is-fpga-the-best-engineering-career-with-adam-taylor#t=1010) FPGA as a Career and the Need for Broad Skills
- [19:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-04-14-is-fpga-the-best-engineering-career-with-adam-taylor#t=1191) FPGA Horizons Conference and PCEA Partnership
- [26:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-04-14-is-fpga-the-best-engineering-career-with-adam-taylor#t=1561) Collaboration Challenges Between FPGA and PCB Teams

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Adiuvo Engineering (company)
- FPGA Horizons (other)
- PCEA (other)
- PCB East (other)
- AMD (company)
- Xilinx (company)
- Microchip (company)
- Lattice (company)
- MathWorks (company)
- Siemens (company)
- Avnet (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Dave Vandenbout - Xceptional XESS Xenagogue](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-01-22-an-interview-with-dave-vandenbout-xceptional-xess-xenagogue) (The Amp Hour)
- [Episode 68: The Wide World of FPGAs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-05-22-episode-68-the-wide-world-of-fpgas) (The Circuit)
- [An Interview With Todd Bailey - Embedded Embrasure Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-04-16-an-interview-with-todd-bailey-embedded-embrasure-engineering) (The Amp Hour)
- [Creating Next-Gen Microcontroller Developer Tools and Equipping the People Who Use Them](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-04-22-creating-next-gen-microcontroller-developer-tools-and-equipping-the-people-who-u) (Moore's Lobby)
- [The Walmart Greeter of Electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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