Senior FPGA Engineer II Verified today
About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, including interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing, and national security initiatives. We've built spacecraft and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
The Role
As a Senior FPGA Engineer II, you will develop and verify FPGA firmware designs for avionics systems in spacecraft programs. You will work collaboratively with engineers of various disciplines across all aspects of FPGA firmware design: requirements definition, design, implementation, verification, and testing. You will have frequent opportunities to test and operate your systems on-orbit.
What You'll 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 SW and FPGA systems
- Participate in test campaigns, ranging from module-level to automated testing at the unit and system level
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in electrical, computer, or software engineering, or other engineering discipline
- 8+ 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
Desirable Qualifications
- Master's or PhD in electrical, computer, or software engineering
- 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, including 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: $143,300 to $191,000 USD. Total compensation (base and equity): $130,000 to $229,100 USD.
Benefits include company stock as part of total compensation, an Employee Stock Purchase Program with 15% discount, medical plans (HMO, PPO, zero-cost HDHP with HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, 401(k) with company match, subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on merchandise, and other employee discounts.
Working Conditions
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.
Export Control Requirements
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 as a refugee, granted asylum, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or Department of Commerce.