Senior RF Digital Payload Engineer I Pipeline 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 over 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.
The Role
Based onsite in Long Beach, CA, you will develop new digital payload products including modems, processors, and network routers. You will take designs from initial concept through inflight operations, including board layout, bring-up, qualification, and production. You will combine RF engineering, system design, and board/circuit design expertise in a fast-paced environment.
What You Will Do
Product Development
- Define and maintain requirements specifications
- Architect the digital product design
- Support the development process to ensure alignment with required product capabilities
- Design and prototype digital products including component selection and PCB layout, fabrication, and packaging
- Support development of test plans and procedures
- Support design and development of GSE and production automation
- Support development of product documentation including ICDs and User Manuals
- Liaise with Test Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers to drive New Product Introduction
Customer and Program Support
- Review proposals and requirements specifications to assess compliance against existing capabilities versus development needs
- Scope and drive development activities for new requirements
- Support engineering reviews such as PDRs, CDRs, and TRRs
- Provide technical support to internal and external customers, including troubleshooting anomalies
- Maintain awareness of product development and production schedules
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or other engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience in space electronics with expertise in high-speed serial interfaces (SPI, PCIe, Ethernet), system on chips, microcontrollers, and digital signal processing
- Experience developing and delivering a digital product including assessing requirements, prototyping engineering models, and producing space-worthy products
- Detailed knowledge of digital signal processing algorithms and communication theory
- U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements
Preferred Qualifications
- Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance
- Deep experience with various modems and latest modem components
- Extensive experience in space-grade board design including parts selection and performance simulation for high-speed digital and mixed-signal circuits
- Extensive experience in circuit analysis including timing analysis and physical constraints
- Experience supporting and leading complex engineering programs and developing associated documentation
- Experience designing, integrating, and testing communications systems for launch vehicles or satellites
- Experience leading incident management and investigations
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Effective communication skills and ability to build strong working relationships
- Project management experience
Compensation and Benefits
Base salary: $124,000 to $170,500 USD. Total compensation including equity: $144,275 to $206,175 USD. Equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.
Benefits include company stock, Employee Stock Purchase Program with 15% discount, medical plans (HMO, PPO, zero-cost HDHP with HSA), dental and vision, 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, gym discounts, and employee merchandise discount.
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.