Job description

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 . Principal Digital Design Engineer: Role Overview Join Astera Labs as a Principal Digital Design Engineer to architect and implement next-generation digital designs for high-performance AI connectivity solutions. You'll own complex blocks from micro-architecture through silicon bring-up, driving RTL implementation and collaborating with verification, physical design, and DFT teams to deliver production-quality silicon supporting PCIe Gen 6/7, CXL, UALink, UCI, Ethernet, and DDR4/DDR5 protocols. This role offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology at the forefront of AI infrastructure, taking ownership of critical design challenges in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where your contributions directly impact products deployed by the world's leading hyperscalers. Key Responsibilities Design Ownership & Execution Develop and implement complex digital blocks and subsystems by defining micro-architecture and driving RTL implementation with an exceptional power, performance and area trade-off using silicon technologies better than 7nm. Lead efforts to achieve timing closure and implement Design-for-Test (DFT) features for optimal design performance Drive designs to production, ensuring accountability for quality, schedule, and overall design success Verification & Integration Collaborate with verification teams to develop test plans, achieve coverage closure, and debug complex issues Own third-party IP integration and block-level verification through sign-off Work closely with post-silicon teams to facilitate silicon bring-up and debug Technical Leadership Mentor junior engineers to develop their technical skills and expertise Actively contribute to the development and improvement of silicon development processes Drive design methodology improvements and CAD automation initiatives Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent 10+ years of hands-on experience developing complex SoC/silicon products in Server, Storage, and/or Networking markets Expertise in architecture definition, micro-architecture development, RTL coding, functional simulation, and synthesis Strong understanding of timing closure, gate-level simulation (GLS), and DFT implementation Deep expertise in at least one high-speed protocol: PCIe, CXL, Ethernet, DDR, or similar Production experience with advanced CMOS nodes (≤7nm) Proficiency with Cadence and/or Synopsys digital design flows Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field Track record of delivering multiple high-performance designs to production in data-center environments Hands-on collaboration with embedded firmware teams; understanding of firmware development challenges Familiarity with standard embedded processor subsystems (RISC-V, Arm, etc.) Proven contributions to design methodology, CAD automation, or design infrastructure Salary range is $185,000 to $230,000 depending on experience, level, and business need. This role may be eligible for discretionary bonus, incentives and benefits 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.

Requirements

Must-haves

Design Ownership & Execution
Lead efforts to achieve timing closure and implement Design-for-Test (DFT) features for optimal design performance
Drive designs to production, ensuring accountability for quality, schedule, and overall design success
Verification & Integration
Collaborate with verification teams to develop test plans, achieve coverage closure, and debug complex issues
Own third-party IP integration and block-level verification through sign-off
Work closely with post-silicon teams to facilitate silicon bring-up and debug
Technical Leadership
Mentor junior engineers to develop their technical skills and expertise
Actively contribute to the development and improvement of silicon development processes
Drive design methodology improvements and CAD automation initiatives
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
10+ years of hands-on experience developing complex SoC/silicon products in Server, Storage, and/or Networking markets
Expertise in architecture definition, micro-architecture development, RTL coding, functional simulation, and synthesis
Strong understanding of timing closure, gate-level simulation (GLS), and DFT implementation
Deep expertise in at least one high-speed protocol: PCIe, CXL, Ethernet, DDR, or similar
Production experience with advanced CMOS nodes (≤7nm)
Proficiency with Cadence and/or Synopsys digital design flows

Nice-to-haves

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
Track record of delivering multiple high-performance designs to production in data-center environments
Hands-on collaboration with embedded firmware teams; understanding of firmware development challenges
Familiarity with standard embedded processor subsystems (RISC-V, Arm, etc.)
Proven contributions to design methodology, CAD automation, or design infrastructure

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

Platform: greenhouse
Effort: quick