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:
The mission of this role is to architect and develop firmware and microcontroller subsystems for Astera Labs’ SoC and systems products. Firmware is responsible for implementing the major differentiating features of Astera Labs’ products. As such, firmware is considered equally important to the hardware, and the firmware team is often customer-facing accordingly to ensure the customer's needs are fully comprehended.
Basic qualifications:
- Strong academic and technical background in electrical engineering. At a minimum, a Bachelor’s in EE or Computer Science is required.
- Minimum 5 years' experience supporting or developing complex SoC/silicon products for Server, Storage, and/or Networking applications.
- Experience developing firmware to execute with on-chip microcontrollers and C-language software development kits (SDKs) to execute on system host CPUs and embedded microprocessors.
- Experience working with logic designers to implement and test HW-SW interfaces on complex SoCs.
- Professional attitude with the ability to prioritize a dynamic list of multiple tasks, and to work with minimal guidance and supervision.
- Entrepreneurial, open-minded behavior and can-do attitude. Think and act fast with the customer in mind!
- Can start immediately.
Required experience:
- High level of proficiency in C (preferred) or C++, including development of C-based SDKs and firmware.
- Proficient in Python for scripting.
- Ability to design, implement, and write unit-level tests.
- Working knowledge of software build environments, gcc/make.
- Experience with developer workflows, SCM (preferably git), code reviews, CI.
- Hands-on experience with Server, Storage, and/or Networking equipment.
- Familiarity with SoC interfaces to various HW blocks, on-chip memory interfaces, and other similar interfaces that are common to chip design.
Preferred experience:
- Firmware development experience using RTOS.
- Experience developing boot-ROM and familiarity working in pre-Silicon environments (Simulation and emulation).
- Experience with secure boot flows (authentication, attestation & standards like DICE, Caliptra) is an asset.
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 Science
- At least 5 years of experience supporting or developing complex SoC or silicon products for server, storage, or networking applications
- Experience developing firmware for on-chip microcontrollers and C-language SDKs for host CPUs and embedded microprocessors
- Experience working with logic designers to implement and test hardware-software interfaces on complex SoCs
- High proficiency in C or C++, including C-based SDK and firmware development
- Proficiency in Python for scripting
- Ability to design, implement, and write unit-level tests
- Working knowledge of software build environments, GCC, and Make
- Experience with developer workflows, source control management, preferably Git, code reviews, and continuous integration
- Hands-on experience with server, storage, or networking equipment
- Familiarity with SoC interfaces, on-chip memory interfaces, and related chip-design interfaces
- Professional ability to prioritize multiple tasks and work with minimal supervision
- Ability to start immediately
- Firmware development experience using an RTOS
- Experience developing boot ROM and working in pre-silicon simulation or emulation environments
- Experience with secure boot flows, authentication, attestation, DICE, or Caliptra
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.
