Senior Firmware Engineer II​/Principal; TS​/SCI

Position: Senior Firmware Engineer II/Principal (TS/SCI)

Senior Firmware Engineer II/Principal (TS/SCI)

The Optical Systems division at Rocket Lab solves mission‑critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance challenges for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. We are hiring a Senior Firmware Engineer II/Principal based at our Optical Systems sites in Tucson, AZ or Chantilly, VA to support the U.S. Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture using FPGA technologies such as Xilinx.

What

You’ll Do

• Work with the hardware design team on requirements.
• Complete FPGA logic design, coding, simulation, and testing.
• Support hardware and software development teams during bring‑up and product testing.
• Provide subject‑matter expertise regarding design and automated test development procedures to customers and production support.
• Perform research and analysis of customer specifications, datasheets, or manuals to determine design approach and feasibility.
• Debug designs in the lab.
• Perform synthesis, implementation, and timing analysis.

Qualifications – Senior Firmware Engineer II

• Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or equivalent discipline with 8‑12 years of experience.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance.
• Experience in digital firmware design.

Qualifications – Principal Firmware Engineer

• Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or equivalent discipline with 12+ years of experience.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance.
• Experience in digital firmware design.

Nice to Have

• Experience with FPGAs and embedded systems in a radiation environment, including SEU/SEL impact and mitigation.
• Experience creating IP from scratch in RTL and integrating existing IP into RTL and block designs.
• Familiarity with C, Python, or MATLAB and translating algorithms from a scripted language to HDL.
• Experience with software interfaces including interrupts and DMA.
• Experience in project management, team leadership, or mentoring.
• Experience with systems engineering methods including 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 and ability to build strong working relationships.
• PCB design and schematic capture and layout with tools such as Altium Designer.
• An ownership outlook with willingness to identify gaps and engage stakeholders.

Additional Requirements

• Specific vision abilities required: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to focus.
• Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboards and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing.
• Must be physically able to commute to buildings.

What to Expect

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment. Our people out‑think, out‑work, and out‑pace, checking egos at the door and rolling up sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure and work to tight deadlines, focusing on delivering solutions rather than dwelling on challenges.

Important

Information FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, Rocket Lab employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident, or otherwise eligible to obtain required authorizations. Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, prohibiting discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to protected characteristics.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process should contact Giulia Johnson at  This resource is intended solely for job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from applying/interviewing. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY

Background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers, including nationality checks. You must be eligible to access equipment and data under U.S. ITAR. You may be ineligible if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the EU, or a NATO country, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.

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