ABOUT ROCKET LAB
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.
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.
ROCKET LAB ROBOTICS
At Rocket Lab Robotics, we build robotic systems that push the boundaries of what's possible in space. From Mars-proven robotic arms to precision motion control systems for the most demanding environments in our solar system, our team delivers advanced electro-mechanical solutions for planetary exploration and various satellite programs. We've engineered hardware that has operated on the surface of Mars on NASA's Perseverance rover, supported lunar exploration through the CADRE rover program, and developed precision mechanisms for spacecraft subsystems including solar array drives, antenna gimbals, and optical payloads. As part of Rocket Lab, we combine the focus of small, dedicated robotics teams with the resources of a leading end-to-end space company, empowering some of the boldest missions in history. We're looking for people who take ownership and drive a problem from first principles all the way through manufacturing and delivery.
SENIOR FIRMWARE ENGINEER I/II
Based at Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, CA, the Senior Firmware Engineer I/II you 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. We're looking for people who are passionate about robotics electrical hardware design, with a willingness to learn in a fast-paced environment.
WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO
- 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.
- Perform research and analysis of data, such as customer proposed specifications, datasheets, or manuals to determine design approach and/or feasibility.
(Please note: this position can be hired at the Senior Firmware Engineer I or Senior Firmware Engineer II levels)
YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS 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 AXI Memory Mapped interfaces.
YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS 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 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
- PCB design and schematic capture and layout with tools such as Altium Designer.
- Experience with Librero
- Experience with modeling systems such as Simulink
- Familiarity with C, Python or MATLAB and/or experience translating algorithms from a scripted language to HDL.
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.
Level and base salary will be 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: 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, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match. Other perks include: Discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and 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.
WHAT TO EXPECT
We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.
Important information:
FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.
Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at [email protected] dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.
FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:
For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or equivalent with 5+ years (Level I) or 8+ years (Level II) of relevant experience
- 5+ years of FPGA firmware design with Verilog, including creating IP from scratch
- Ability to develop blank-sheet-of-paper design concepts
- Experience in motor control applications
- Experience with analog signal chains that include an FPGA
- Experience in digital signal processing
- Proficiency in FPGA verification and validation
- Experience with software interfaces
- Experience with interrupts and DMA
- Familiarity with AXI Memory Mapped interfaces
- Hardware debug experience using logic analyzers and oscilloscopes
- Experience developing FPGA test firmware and supporting automated test equipment (ATE)
- 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 single precision floating point math in FPGA
- PCB design and schematic capture/layout experience with Altium Designer
- Experience with Librero
- Experience with modeling systems such as Simulink
- Familiarity with C, Python, or MATLAB and/or translating algorithms from scripted languages to HDL
Rocket Lab Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Rocket Lab and has not been reviewed or approved by Rocket Lab.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision coverage with multiple plan options are offered, including a company‑sponsored HSA plan option and supportive ancillary benefits. These elements portray comprehensive healthcare support for U.S. roles.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — An employee stock purchase program with discounted share access and a look‑back feature, alongside eligibility for equity, is presented as a strong component of total rewards. This structure can meaningfully augment cash pay for those who value long‑term upside.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid vacation, sick time, holidays, and paid parental leave are included. These provisions indicate a complete time‑off offering for a midsize aerospace employer.
Rocket Lab Insights
What We Do
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, spacecraft components, satellites and other spacecraft and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and is developing the Neutron 8-ton payload class launch vehicle. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 100+ satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a second launch site in Virginia, USA which is expected to become operational in late 2022. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.
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