Senior FPGA Engineer I/II

About The Role

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation, and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Senior Firmware Engineer I/II

Based at Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, CA, the Senior Firmware Engineer I/II will participate in the development and test of avionics hardware for our robotics programs. You will work collaboratively with engineers of various disciplines and participate in all aspects of electrical hardware development, from requirements definition through design, prototyping, fabrication, testing, and production. As an engineer on the robotics development team, you will have frequent opportunities to test and operate your systems on-orbit.

• End to end ownership of IP and algorithms for robotics and motor control applications.
• Work with an interdisciplinary team on requirements and documentation.
• Complete FPGA logic design, coding, simulation, and testing.
• Perform synthesis, implementation, and timing analysis.
• Debugging of hardware in the lab with the use of logic analyzers and oscilloscopes.
• Support hardware and software development teams with verification and validation.
• Develop FPGA test firmware and support automated test equipment (ATE) for production.
• Provide subject-matter expertise regarding debug, design, and automated test development.
• Develop and analyze data, such as customer proposed specifications, datasheets, or manuals to determine design approach and/or feasibility.

Qualifications

• Senior Firmware Engineer I:
• Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering or equivalent discipline with 5+ years of experience for level I or 8+ years of experience for level II.
• 5+ years of experience in FPGA firmware design with Verilog, specifically creating IP from scratch.
• Able to develop "blank sheet of paper" design concepts.
• Experience in motor control applications.
• Experience in analog signal chains including an FPGA.
• Experience in digital signal processing.
• Proficiency in FPGA verification and validation.
• Experience with software interfaces, interrupts, and DMA.
• Familiarity with AXI Memory Mapped interfaces.
• Senior Firmware Engineer II:
• Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering or equivalent discipline with 8+ years of experience for level I or 8+ years of experience for level II.
• 5+ years of experience in FPGA firmware design with Verilog, specifically creating IP from scratch.
• Able to develop "blank sheet of paper" design concepts.
• Experience in motor control applications.
• Experience in analog signal chains including an FPGA.
• Experience in digital signal processing.
• Proficiency in FPGA verification and validation.
• Experience with software interfaces, interrupts, and DMA.
• Familiarity with AXI Memory Mapped interfaces.

These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have:

• Experience implementing real-time control, signal processing, data acquisition, machine vision, or sensor-interface algorithms in FPGA fabric.
• Experience with Field-Oriented-Control.
• Experience with FPGAs and embedded systems in a radiation environment, including SEU/SEL impact and mitigation.
• Experience with board bring-up and debug utilizing logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, etc.
• Experience in FPGA with single precision floating point math.
• Experience with PCB design and schematic capture and layout with tools such as Altium Designer.
• Experience with Librero.
• Experience with modeling systems such as Simulink.
• Proficiency in C, Python, or MATLAB and/or experience translating algorithms from a scripted language to HDL.

Pay

$143,300—$238,700 USD

Benefits

• Top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 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 per year.
• Flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts.
• Paid parental leave.
• Disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

Additional Information

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.

Base pay range is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one component of our total rewards package at Rocket Lab. Employees may also receive company equity and access to a robust benefits package including:

• Discounted employee stock purchase program.
• Subsidized EV charging stations.
• O onsite gym.
• Food and drinks.
• Other discounts.

Eligibility for benefits may vary based on employment status, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role.

Benefit programs are subject to change at the company’s discretion.