FPGA Engineer
Posted 5 Sep 2026
Advertised as “Senior FPGA Engineer II”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Level
- II
- Expected experience
- 8+ yrs
- Management level
- Individual contributor
No salary listed for this role.
Field of studyComputer Engineering, Electrical Engineering (or related)
Study levelBachelor's
ABOUT ROCKET LAB
Rocket 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 SYSTEMS
Rocket Lab’s Space Systems division builds complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, and radios.
The Space Systems division has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. We have 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 get to space — our Space Systems division is empowering the boldest and most ambitious space missions.
SENIOR FIRMWARE ENGINEER II
Rocket Lab Optical Systems solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance challenges for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community 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, Rocket Lab Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.
As a Senior Firmware Engineer II for Rocket Lab Optical Systems in Tucson, AZ, you will have the opportunity to support Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture by designing FPGAs for advanced electro-optical space payloads.
WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO
- 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.