Senior RF Digital Payload Engineer I Pipeline
About The Position
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Digital Payload Engineer for a future opening on its Space Systems team, based onsite at the company’s global headquarters in Long Beach, California. The role develops digital payload products such as modems, processors, and network routers, taking designs from initial concept through in-flight operations, including board layout, bring-up, qualification, and production. It calls for a combination of RF engineering, system design, and board and circuit design skills in a fast-paced environment. The engineer defines product requirements, architects digital product designs, and supports development to ensure design decisions meet required capabilities. The role includes designing and prototyping products, selecting components, developing PCB layouts and packaging, supporting test plans and procedures, ground support equipment (GSE) and production automation, and product documentation such as interface control documents (ICDs) and user manuals. The engineer works with test and manufacturing engineers to drive new product introduction. The position also supports customers and programs by reviewing proposals and requirements for compliance with existing product capabilities, scoping development for new requirements, participating in engineering reviews, and providing technical support and anomaly troubleshooting. The engineer maintains awareness of product development and production schedules to help satisfy customer and program needs.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or another engineering discipline.
- At least 5 years of experience in space electronics, with technical expertise in high-speed serial interfaces (SPI, PCIe, Ethernet), systems 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 (DSP) algorithms and communication theory.
- U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements.
Nice To Haves
- Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.
- Deep experience with various modems and familiarity with the 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; demonstrated code design for reusability, maintainability, and scalability.
- 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.
Responsibilities
- Define and maintain requirements specifications.
- Architect digital product designs.
- Support the development process and ensure key design decisions and developments 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 the design and development of ground support equipment (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.
- Review proposals and requirements specifications to assess compliance against existing unit capabilities and identify development needs.
- Scope and drive development activities for new requirements.
- Support engineering reviews, including PDRs, CDRs, and TRRs.
- Provide technical support to internal and external customers, including answering general questions and troubleshooting anomalies.
- Maintain awareness of product development and production schedules to help meet customer and program needs.
Benefits
- Company stock as part of total compensation.
- Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
- Medical plans, including HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP option with a company HSA contribution.
- Dental coverage.
- Vision coverage.
- Paid vacation and sick time.
- 11 paid holidays.
- Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
- Paid parental leave.
- Disability insurance.
- 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 the company merch store.
- Other employee discounts.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
