Senior RF Digital Payload Engineer II Pipeline

ABOUT ROCKET LABRocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

SPACE SYSTEMSAt 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 DIGITAL PAYLOAD ENGINEER II PIPELINE Based onsite at Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, we are looking for a Senior Digital Payload Engineer II for a future opening who will be responsible for the development of new digital payload products including modems, processors, and network routers. The Senior Digital Payload Engineer will take the design from initial concept through inflight operations including board layout, bring-up, qualification, and production.

The successful candidate will have a strong combination of RF engineering, system design, and board/circuit design skills and will thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

Product Development Define and maintain requirements specifications

Architect the digital product design

Support the development process, ensuring key design decisions and developments are in alignment with the required product capabilities

Design and prototype the digital product including component selection and PCB layout / fabrication / packaging

Support the development of test plans and procedures

Support the design and development of GSE and production automation

Support the development of product documentation including ICDs and User Manuals Liaise with Test Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers to drive New Product Introduction Customer/Program Support Review proposals and requirements specifications to assess compliance based on existing unit capabilities vs development needs

Scope and drive development activities for new requirements

Support engineering reviews such as PDRs, CDRs and TRRsProvide technical support to internal/external customers including general questions and anomaly troubleshooting

Maintain broad awareness of product development and production schedules to ensure the needs of customers and programs are satisfied YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS A SENIOR DIGITAL PAYLOAD ENGINEER II:

Bachelors degree in electrical engineering, computer science; or other engineering discipline8+ years of experience in space electronics with technical expertise in high speed serial interfaces (SPI, PCIe, Ethernet), system on chips, microcontrollers, and digital signal processing

Experience in 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 theoryU.S. citizenship required…