Principal Digital Design Engineer

Posted 2 Days Ago
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San Jose, CA, USA
In-Office
185K-230K Annually
Senior level
Big Data • Information Technology
The Role
Designs and implements front-end digital circuits for high-performance networking and switch ASICs, including microarchitecture, RTL, synthesis, IP integration, verification, timing closure, DFT, and silicon bring-up. Owns complex designs from architecture through GDS and production while working with PCIe, UALink, Esun, and Ethernet protocols. Requires expertise with Synopsys or Cadence flows, UVM verification, small-geometry CMOS, and customer-focused technical leadership.
Summary Generated by Built In

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 Digital 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 – $230,000.00 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.

Skills Required

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
  • Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
  • At least 8 years of experience supporting or developing complex SoC or silicon products
  • Experience with Switch ASIC, networking, server, or storage applications
  • Hands-on knowledge of PCIe, UALink, Esun, Ethernet, or similar high-speed protocols
  • Front-end digital design expertise spanning architecture, RTL, simulation, synthesis, timing closure, GLS, and DFT
  • Full-chip or block-level ownership from architecture through GDS and production
  • Experience with Synopsys and/or Cadence digital design tools and flows
  • Knowledge of DFT, including stuck-at and transition scan test insertion
  • Familiarity with UVM-based design verification
  • Silicon bring-up and debug expertise
  • Experience with small-geometry CMOS at 28nm or smaller
  • Firmware development using C
  • Scripting using Python or equivalent programming languages
  • Development or support experience for PCIe or Ethernet switch products
  • Authorization to work in the United States and ability to start immediately

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.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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

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The Company
HQ: San Jose, CA
148 Employees
Year Founded: 2017

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.

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