Director Post-Si Electrical Validation Engineering

Astera Labs, San Jose, California +1

The role

Astera Labs is seeking a Director of Post-Si Electrical Validation Engineering to lead the development, bring-up, and validation of ASIC SerDes and PCIe PHY products that enable rack-scale AI infrastructure. Working closely with ASIC, systems, firmware, signal integrity, power integrity, mechanical, thermal, manufacturing, and customer engineering teams, you will guide products from concept and architecture through qualification and mass production.

This is a hands-on leadership role in a fast-moving environment. You will lead a talented engineering team while stepping in to solve complex technical problems, engage directly with customers, and improve hardware development processes. Your work will help ensure Astera Labs’ connectivity and memory products deliver reliable, high-performance systems for cloud service providers, server manufacturers, and networking OEMs.

All jobs

Director Post-Si Electrical Validation Engineering

Astera Labs, San Jose, California +1

Posted pay

$210K–$275K

a year

Compared with similar jobs

This base pay is near the median for director-level hardware and robotics jobs in the US.

Median: $250K a year
Other jobs in the group: 36

We compare the middle of each posted range. This is base pay as posted. The group does not include this job.

Location: San Jose, California +1
Work type: Not given
Level: Director+, manager
Experience: 12+ years
Skills in the job text: Python
PCB design
Posted: 3 days ago
Last check: 9 h ago
Job type: Hardware and robotics

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Astera Labs

Open tech jobs: 106
With posted pay: 58%
Median posted base: $185K–$240K

About Astera Labs: funding, hiring and pay

Astera Labs

About Astera Labs: funding, hiring and pay

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The role

What you will do

Board Product Strategy and Technical Leadership
- Lead ASIC Electrical-level (PHY) validation strategy across product definition, architecture, PCB/test fixture development, Validation Automation, data review, bring-up, debug, optimization, qualification, and production release.
- Define validation plans, coverage goals, risk assessments, schedules, and exit criteria for high-speed ASIC and PHY IP
- Make hands-on technical contributions to unblock critical design, validation, and customer issues in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
High-Speed SerDes Validation
- Direct ASIC Power-On and bring-up, silicon/PCB debug, PVT characterization, margin analysis, and performance optimization across voltage, temperature, channel, and workload conditions.
- Validate high-speed NRZ and PAM4 SerDes-based protocols, including PCIe Gen 3 and above
- Apply signal/power integrity, SerDes/PHY knowledge, coding, and lab expertise to identify risks and drive practical solutions across circuits, power distribution, connectors, sockets, and cables.
Cross-Functional and Customer Execution
- Partner with ASIC, system validation, firmware, systems, mechanical, thermal, quality, compliance, manufacturing, and customer engineering teams to deliver robust products.
- Engage key internal customers to understand system requirements, evaluate form factors, propose complete board solutions, and resolve issues through production support.
- Collaborate with external vendors for test equipment, bench sockets, temperature forcing units, RF cables, PCB vendors, and related suppliers to ensure validation platforms are automated, robust, and scalable.
Team Development and Productization
- Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing engineering team while establishing clear ownership, technical standards, and execution mechanisms.
- Drive products from concept to mass production, including validation data reviews, code/automatin reviews, validation reporting, documentation, and post-production support.
- Improve post-Silicon development processes and methodologies, share lessons learned, and reuse validation best practices across Astera Labs’ connectivity and memory product portfolio.

What you need

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field. Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering preferred.
12 - 15+ years of relevant experience, consistent with Astera Labs’ standardized Director level.
Technical management experience leading design, validation, product, or system engineering teams.
Experience with high-speed serdes PHY Validation over PVT conditions and taking products from concept to validation plan, validation, production release and post-production support.
Strong background in high-speed SerDes IP validation and PHY tuning, signal/power integrity, and automation using common lab equipment such as high-speed oscilloscopes, BERTs, and VNAs
Entrepreneurial, open-minded behavior and can-do attitude. Think and act with the customer in mind!
Strong cross-functional collaboration, technical communication, prioritization, and independent problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications.

Experience leading SoC Debug and development for high-speed interfaces such as PCIe5, PCIe6 or PAM4 802.3 Ethernet.
Working knowledge of key, high-speed PHY design blocks such as PLL’s, DFE, Tx EQ,FFE, CDR, etc and signaling concepts such as PAM4
Strong python scripting ability: knowledge of object-oriented programming and basic dev ops using git for source control and collaboration
Deep background in developing bench automation techniques, preferably using Python, with emphasis on execution efficiency, repeatability, and data analysis.
Proficiency using high-speed lab equipment such as BERT, Oscilloscope, and VNA
Startup experience and a proactive, hands-on, customer-focused approach to solving complex problems.

Salary range is $210,000 to $275,000 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.

Director Post-Si Electrical Validation Engineering

The role

Director Post-Si Electrical Validation Engineering

The role

What you will do

What you need

About Astera Labs

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