Senior FPGA Engineer II Verified today
About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Space Systems Division
Our Space Systems team builds complete spacecraft, precision payloads, and subsystems including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, and radios. The team has enabled more than 1,700 missions ranging from interplanetary exploration to national security initiatives, with 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 be responsible for development and verification of FPGA firmware designs for the avionics systems in our spacecraft programs. You will work collaboratively with engineers of various disciplines and participate in all aspects of FPGA firmware design, from requirements definition to 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'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 degree
- 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
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 concepts in signal integrity and digital timing with experience in digital worst case circuit analysis (DWCCA)
- Experience working with common interface protocols including SPI, UART, I2C, and CAN
- Experience working 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
Compensation
- Base Salary: $143,300 - $191,000 USD
- Total Compensation (base and equity): $130,000 - $229,100 USD
- Equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance
Benefits
- Company stock as part of total compensation package
- Industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (15% discount on company stock)
- Top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and zero cost HDHP option with significant 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) retirement plan with company match
- Subsidized EV charging
- Onsite fitness centers (where available)
- Discounted gym memberships
- Complimentary snacks and beverages
- 50% employee discount on merchandise
Work Environment
This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.
Eligibility
U.S. citizenship or eligible status is required due to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). You must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce.