Sr. FPGA Engineer II Verified today
About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems for civil, commercial, and defense missions. We build real hardware for meaningful space programs and work with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
The Role
As Sr. FPGA Engineer II, you will be responsible for development and verification of FPGA firmware designs for avionics systems in spacecraft programs. You will work collaboratively with engineers across disciplines and participate in all aspects of FPGA firmware design, from requirements definition to 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 software 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, 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 (ITAR compliance)
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's or PhD degree in electrical, computer, software engineering, or other engineering disciplines
- 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 radiation environments, including SEU/SEL impact and mitigation in 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 hardware testing
- Proficiency with GIT repository
- Proficiency with JIRA
- Experience in continuous integration environments
Compensation and Benefits
Base salary for this role in California ranges from $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 a robust package: top tier medical HMO, PPO and 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 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 perks.
Working Conditions
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.