Senior Firmware Engineer I (FPGA)

Rocket Lab Corporation•Chantilly, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

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 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. Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope. SPACE SYSTEMS At Rocket Lab, we’re not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it’s a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space — our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions. SENIOR FIRMWARE ENGINEER I Rocket Lab’s Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains. As a Senior Firmware Engineer I based at our Optical Systems sites in Chantilly, VA, you will have the opportunity to support Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Development Agency's (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) using the latest FPGA technologies including Xilinx to support advanced Electro-Optical (EO/IR) technology.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering or equivalent discipline with 5-8 years of experience
Experience in digital firmware design
Ability to obtain and maintain an U.S. Government Security Clearance

Nice To Haves

Ability to obtain and maintain the necessary level of US Government security clearance per customer requirements
Experience with FPGAs and embedded systems in a radiation environment, including SEU/SEL impact and mitigation
Experience in both creating IP from scratch in RTL, and integrating existing IP into RTL and block designs
Familiarity with C, Python or MATLAB and/or experience translating algorithms from a scripted language to HDL
Experience with software interfaces including interrupts and DMA
Experience in project management, team leadership, and/or mentoring
Experience with systems engineering methods including systems trades, requirements management, performance characterization, and interface management
Experience with DDR4, Aurora, and high-speed transceiver design and verification
Familiarity with AXI Stream and AXI Memory Mapped interfaces
Embedded C/C++ software development for ARM processors and MCUs over the full stack including Linux
Experience in FPGA- or ASIC-based image processing algorithms
Ability to work under pressure and adhere to tight deadlines
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships
PCB design and schematic capture and layout with tools such as Altium Designer
An ownership outlook with the desire to build lasting systems and a willingness to identify gaps, develop plans to address them, and engage stakeholders to fill them.

Responsibilities

Work with the hardware design team on requirements.
Complete FPGA logic design, coding, simulation, and testing.
Support hardware and software development teams in bring-up and test of products.
Provide subject-matter expertise regarding design and automated test development procedures to customers and production support team.
Perform research and analysis of data, such as customer proposed specifications, datasheets, or manuals to determine design approach and/or feasibility.
Execute debugging of the design in the lab.
Perform synthesis, implementation, and timing analysis.

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