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.
Role Overview
Astera Labs is establishing a strategic R&D center in Israel to drive the development of complex semiconductor chips that solve the critical 'data bottlenecks' enabling the future of AI at scale. As we expand our presence in Israel, we're seeking a talented Senior Emulation Engineer to help build our local engineering powerhouse from the ground up. This is an exciting opportunity to take on meaningful ownership in a new site, implementing the emulation strategy for chips that power the world's largest AI clusters.
As an Senior Emulation Engineer, you will be a core technical driver of our Israel R&D center, working at the intersection of hardware and software to ensure our silicon meets extreme quality and performance targets. You will execute end-to-end emulation flows, bridge the gap between RTL and functional validation, and partner with cross-functional teams to enable seamless hardware-software integration. If you thrive on solving complex technical challenges and want to play a key role in validating cutting-edge AI infrastructure connectivity solutions, this is your opportunity.
Key Responsibilities
Emulation Flow Execution & Implementation
- Execute end-to-end emulation flow from high-level model generation and RTL synthesis to complex system-level testing and silicon-accurate debugging
- Work directly with next-generation emulation platforms (Zebu, Palladium, or Veloce) to implement cutting-edge methodologies
- Maintain and evolve emulation flows to reduce compile times and increase execution speed, directly impacting time-to-market
System-Level Debug & Validation
- Drive initial model bring-up process in high-stakes environment, identifying and resolving complex bugs
- Ensure rapid cycles from RTL to functional stability through systematic debug approaches
- Own technical blocks and drive them to completion independently
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Firmware, Software, and Validation teams to debug complex system-level scenarios
- Ensure seamless hardware-software integration for AI infrastructure connectivity
- Collaborate with Design and Verification teams to optimize emulation strategies
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical field
- 3+ years of hands-on experience in Emulation at semiconductor companies
- Deep expertise in emulation flows for large-scale chips using industry-standard emulators (Zebu, Palladium, or Veloce)
- Strong background in SystemVerilog for developing, testing, and debugging complex SoC designs
- Experience developing and maintaining execution flows for building, running, and debugging emulation models
- "Can-do" approach with ability to own technical blocks and drive them to completion independently
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
- Familiarity with EDA tools for Lint, Clock Domain Crossing (CDC), simulation, and synthesis
- Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python or TCL for automation and flow enhancement
- Experience with standard debug environments (e.g., Verdi)
- Knowledge of high-speed interface protocols (PCIe, Ethernet, CXL, UALink)
- Background in hardware-software co-verification methodologies
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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
- 3+ years of hands-on experience in Emulation at semiconductor companies
- Deep expertise in emulation flows using industry-standard emulators
- Strong background in SystemVerilog
- Experience developing and maintaining execution flows for emulation models
Astera Labs Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Astera Labs and has not been reviewed or approved by Astera Labs.
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Healthcare Strength — Health plans are described as competitive and employer-subsidized, covering medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents. Company materials and listings consistently emphasize strong core healthcare coverage.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Flexible time off is highlighted alongside paid company holidays, with guidance indicating generous PTO when coordinated with teams. Documented policies also point to robust time-off structures across locations.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Stock-based compensation is a meaningful part of total pay, with RSUs and an employee stock purchase plan noted as part of the package. Public-company status enhances perceived value and accessibility of equity components.
Astera Labs Insights
What We Do
Astera Labs Inc., a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, is a leader in purpose-built connectivity solutions for data-centric systems throughout the data center. Partnering with leading processor vendors, cloud service providers, seasoned investors, and world-class manufacturing companies, Astera Labs is helping customers remove performance bottlenecks in data-intensive systems that are limiting the true potential of applications such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. The company’s product portfolio includes system-aware semiconductor integrated circuits, boards, and services to enable robust CXL, PCIe, and Ethernet connectivity.
