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 .
Role Overview
Astera Labs is seeking a Senior Principal / Distinguished Engineer - FW/SW Development to join our engineering team in San Jose, CA. This is a high-impact individual contributor role at the heart of our Intelligent Connectivity Platform, where you'll architect and develop firmware and software that powers the next generation of AI infrastructure connectivity solutions.
As a Senior Principal / Distinguished Engineer, you'll operate across the full stack — from low-level embedded firmware running on custom silicon to higher-level software tools and frameworks that enable our customers to deploy and manage Astera Labs products at scale. You'll work at the intersection of hardware and software, collaborating closely with ASIC design, verification, applications, and systems engineering teams to deliver world-class solutions spanning PCIe, CXL, and Ethernet connectivity.
This role offers extraordinary breadth and technical ownership. You'll influence architectural decisions across multiple product lines, mentor engineers across the organization, and drive best practices in firmware/software development as Astera Labs continues its hyper-growth trajectory powering the AI revolution.
Key Responsibilities
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
- 12+ years of experience in firmware and/or software development for semiconductor or systems companies
- Strong proficiency in C and C++ for embedded and systems-level programming
- Experience developing firmware for ARM-based SoCs or custom ASIC platforms
- Deep understanding of hardware-software interfaces, register programming, and low-level debug techniques
- Experience with high-speed interconnect protocols such as PCIe, CXL, or Ethernet at the firmware/driver level
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- Experience with RTOS-based and bare-metal firmware development environments
- Proficiency in Python for automation, tooling, and test development
- Familiarity with Linux kernel development, device drivers, or platform firmware (UEFI/BIOS)
- Track record of leading firmware/software efforts from architecture through production across multiple product generations
- Experience in the data center, AI/ML infrastructure, or high-performance computing domains
The salary range for this position is $180,000 to $250,000 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.
