Astera Labs
Principle Validation Engineer
About this role
Astera Labs seeks a Principal Validation Engineer to lead post-silicon electrical validation testing for AI infrastructure connectivity products. You'll develop comprehensive validation strategies, automate IC and board testing, diagnose performance issues, and ensure products meet stringent parametric specifications across all operating conditions.
What you'll do
- Formulate and execute comprehensive post-silicon validation plans for complex SoC and connectivity products
- Automate electrical testing of ICs and board-level products using bench equipment and custom scripts
- Design targeted experiments to root-cause unexpected behavior and validate signal integrity
- Lead characterization, margin analysis, and optimization of high-speed data interfaces
- Report validation results, specification compliance, and robustness metrics to internal stakeholders
- Collaborate with design teams and customers to quantify performance margins and ensure product quality
What they're looking for
- Post-silicon validation and SoC debug for high-speed interfaces (Ethernet, PCIe, SerDes)
- High-speed electrical standards and compliance (802.3x, PCIe, signal integrity)
- Python automation scripting with object-oriented programming and git version control
- Lab equipment proficiency (BERT, oscilloscope, VNA, signal analyzers)
- SerDes and analog design blocks (PLL, CTLE, DFE, Tx EQ, channel equalization)
- System-level testing, characterization, and margin analysis of data links
- MATLAB, Keysight ADS, or simulation tools for channel and SI modeling
- Leadership and independent problem-solving across cross-functional teams
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Astera Labs
Astera Labs designs high-speed semiconductor connectivity solutions and ASICs for AI infrastructure, including SerDes/PHY IP and CXL Smart Memory Controllers. The company is hiring design verification engineers, quality engineers, firmware engineers, and physical design engineers to develop and validate these advanced chips for cloud and hyperscale platforms.
View all jobs at Astera LabsLikely interview questions
- Walk us through a complex SerDes validation project you led—what unexpected behaviors did you encounter and how did you debug them?
- Describe your experience developing and scaling bench automation frameworks; what Python patterns did you use for maintainability and efficiency?