Principal Design Engineer

Astera Labs
San Jose, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Candidates with deep experience in high-speed communication protocols and a background in complex SoC design will find this Principal Design Engineer role at Astera Labs in San Jose, California, a destination opportunity for those with a proven track record in front-end circuit design and silicon bring-up.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 8+ years of SoC design experience and a customer-focused mindset
    — “Professional attitude with the ability to prioritize a dynamic list of multiple tasks, plan and prepare for customer meetings in advance”
  • Individuals with expertise in PCIe and Ethernet protocols and a history of full chip ownership
    — “Full chip or block level ownership from architecture to GDS, driving multiple complex designs to production”
  • Candidates with experience in small-geometry CMOS design and RTL development
    — “Small-geometry CMOS (≤28nm) design”

Things to consider

  • Must be authorized to work in the US and ready to start immediately
    — “Authorized to work in the US and start immediately”
  • The role demands a high level of autonomy and minimal supervision
    — “Professional attitude with the ability to prioritize a dynamic list of multiple tasks, plan and prepare for customer meetings in advance, and work with minimal guidance and supervision”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience with silicon bring-up and complex block-level design ownership
    — “Full chip or block level ownership from architecture to GDS”
  • Emphasize your hands-on knowledge of high-speed protocols like PCIe and Ethernet
    — “Hands-on, thorough knowledge of high-speed protocols like PCIe, Ualink, Esun, Ethernet, etc.”
  • Showcase your ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
    — “Professional attitude with the ability to prioritize a dynamic list of multiple tasks”
  • Demonstrate your expertise in front-end design including RTL and synthesis
    — “Proven front end design expertise – architecture, RTL, simulations, synthesis, timing closure, GLS, DFT etc.”
  • Include experience with Synopsys or Cadence digital design tools in your application materials
    — “Experience with Synopsys and/or Cadence digital design tools/flows”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Develop micro-architecture and implementation of front-end circuit design
  • Drive multiple complex designs to production
Typical background
8+ years of experience in SoC/silicon products for Switch ASIC, Networking applications and/or Server, Storage

Skills & requirements

Required

High-speed ProtocolsRTL, Synthesis, Timing ClosureUVM Based Design VerificationSmall-geometry CMOS Design

Preferred

Firmware DevelopmentPython Scripting

Stack & domain

Pci-express (gen-3 And Above)UalinkEthernetRTLSynopsysCadence Digital Design Tools/flowsDFTUVM Based Design VerificationSilicon Bring-up And DebugSmall-geometry CMOS (≤28nm) DesignEntrepreneurialOpen-mind BehaviorCan-do AttitudeThink And Act FastSemiconductorNetworking

About the role

Original posting from Astera Labs via Greenhouse

Astera Labs (NASDAQ: ALAB) provides rack-scale AI infrastructure through purpose-built connectivity solutions. By collaborating with hyperscalers and ecosystem partners, Astera Labs enables organizations to unlock the full potential of modern AI. Astera Labs’ Intelligent Connectivity Platform integrates CXL®, Ethernet, NVLink, PCIe®, and UALink™ semiconductor-based technologies with the company’s COSMOS software suite to unify diverse components into cohesive, flexible systems that deliver end-to-end scale-up, and scale-out connectivity. The company’s custom connectivity solutions business complements its standards-based portfolio, enabling customers to deploy tailored architectures to meet their unique infrastructure requirements. Discover more at www.asteralabs.com.

Job Description

We are looking for Principal Design Engineers with experience developing micro-architecture and implementation of the front-end circuit design, including RTL, synthesis, IP integration, and block-level verification for high performance network controllers. The candidate must have good knowledge of communication/interface protocols such as PCI-Express (Gen-3 and above), Ualink, Esun, Ethernet etc.

Basic Qualifications:

Strong academic and technical background in electrical engineering. A Bachelor’s degree in EE is required, and a Master’s degree is preferred.

+8 years’ experience supporting or developing complex SoC/silicon products for Switch ASIC, Networking applications and/or Server, Storage.

Professional attitude with the ability to prioritize a dynamic list of multiple tasks, plan and prepare for customer meetings in advance, and work with minimal guidance and supervision.

Entrepreneurial, open-mind behavior and can-do attitude. Think and act fast with the customer in mind!

Authorized to work in the US and start immediately.

Required Experience:

Hands-on, thorough knowledge of high-speed protocols like PCIe, Ualink, Esun, Ethernet, etc.

Proven front end design expertise – architecture, RTL, simulations, synthesis, timing closure, GLS, DFT etc.

Full chip or block level ownership from architecture to GDS, driving multiple complex designs to production

Experience with Synopsys and/or Cadence digital design tools/flows

Good knowledge of design for test (DFT), stuck-at and transition scan test insertion

Familiarity with UVM based design verification

Silicon bring-up and debug expertise

Small-geometry CMOS (≤28nm) design

Preferred Experience:

Firmware development with C-language, scripting with Python or other equivalent programming languages.

Development/support for PCIe or Ethernet Switch products.

The base salary range is $185,000.00 USD – $240,000.00 USD. Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. 

We know that creativity and innovation happen more often when teams include diverse ideas, backgrounds, and experiences, and we actively encourage everyone with relevant experience to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities.

Source: Astera Labs careers (Greenhouse)

Similar roles

More roles at Astera Labs