Senior RF Digital Payload Engineer I Pipeline 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, and expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The Role
Based onsite at 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'll Own
Product Development
- Define and maintain requirements specifications
- Architect the digital product design
- Support the development process to ensure key design decisions align 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 and Manufacturing Engineers to drive New Product Introduction
Customer and Program Support
- Review proposals and requirements specifications to assess compliance against existing unit 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
- Maintain awareness of product development and production schedules to meet customer and program needs
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or other engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience in space electronics with technical expertise in high-speed serial interfaces (SPI, PCIe, Ethernet), system on chips, microcontrollers, and digital signal processing
- Experience developing and delivering digital products including assessing requirements, prototyping engineering models, and producing space-worthy products
- Detailed knowledge of digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms and communication theory
- U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements
Nice to Have
- Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance
- Deep experience in various modems and familiarity with 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 analyses including timing analysis and physical constraints
- Extensive 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 pay range (California): $132,000 to $198,000 USD. Compensation includes company stock. Benefits include 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, discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, and employee merchandise discount.
How We Work
We move fast and build real hardware for meaningful missions. Our teams out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We have each other's backs, check our egos at the door, and roll up our sleeves on all tasks. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and focus on delivery.