A system for implementing a multi objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) on a programmable hardware device is provided. The system comprises a random number generator, a population generator, a crossover/mutation module, a fitness evaluator, a dominance filter and an archive. The random number generator is configured to generate a sequence of pseudo random numbers. The population generator is configured to generate a population of solutions based on the output from the random number generator. The crossover/mutation module is configured to adapt the population of solutions to generate an adapted population of solutions. The fitness evaluator is configured to evaluate each member comprising the population of solutions and the adapted population of solutions. The fitness evaluator is implemented on the programmable hardware device. The dominance filter is configured to select a subset of members from the population of solutions and the adapted population of solutions and generate a filtered population of solutions. The archive configured to store populations of solutions.