Sr. FPGA Engineer II Verified today

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, and satellite components. The Electron rocket has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit. We are developing Neutron, a medium-lift reusable launch vehicle. Our Space Systems business designs and builds satellites, payloads, and components, including spacecraft selected for NASA Moon and Mars missions and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

Space Systems

Our Space Systems team builds complete spacecraft, precision payloads, solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more. The team has enabled more than 1,700 missions including interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing, and national security initiatives, working with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.

Role

You will be responsible for development and verification of FPGA firmware designs for avionics systems in our spacecraft programs. You will work collaboratively with engineers across disciplines and participate in all aspects of FPGA firmware design, from requirements definition through design, implementation, verification, and testing. As an engineer on the spacecraft development team, you will have frequent opportunities to test and operate your systems on-orbit.

What you will do

• Collaborate with other engineering disciplines in developing firmware architecture and requirements
• Design and verify FPGA firmware for Xilinx and Microchip FPGA and SoC devices
• Develop documentation for FPGA operation and interfacing with other software and FPGA systems
• Participate in test campaigns, ranging from module-level to automated testing at unit and system level

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, computer, or software engineering, or other engineering degree
• 8 or more years of experience with FPGA firmware development
• Proficiency in VHDL
• Strong understanding of FPGA design fundamentals and principles
• U.S. citizenship due to program requirements

Preferred qualifications

• Master's or PhD degree in electrical, computer, or software engineering, or other engineering degrees
• Proficiency with Xilinx and Microchip devices and tools
• Proficiency with verification frameworks including UVM and VUnit
• Experience with software defined radios and DSP algorithms
• Experience with feedback control systems
• Experience with FPGAs and embedded systems in a radiation environment, including SEU/SEL impact and mitigation within spacecraft avionics
• Proficiency with signal integrity and digital timing concepts with experience in digital worst case circuit analysis (DWCCA)
• Experience with common interface protocols including SPI, UART, I2C, and CAN
• Experience with high-speed interface protocols including GigE and PCIe
• Proficiency with embedded software
• Proficiency in reading PCB designs and schematics
• Proficiency with lab tools and working with hardware
• Proficiency with GIT repository
• Proficiency with JIRA
• Experience with development in continuous integration environment
• Demonstrated success working in a dynamic environment and ability to manage competing priorities

Compensation and benefits

Base salary range (CA only): $143,300 to $214,850 USD. Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Benefits include company equity and access to medical HMO, PPO, 100% company-sponsored HSA option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave annually, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts. Eligibility varies by employment status.

Work environment

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, with occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

Requirements for U.S. employment

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), lawfully admitted refugee, or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.