Optical Design Engineer, Staff / Sr Staff

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.

As an Optical Design Engineer, you will work on the design, simulations, tape-out, and measurements of micro-optical components for integrated photonic circuits. This also includes the development and implementation of specific optical characterization techniques and setups from lab-status to automated production tools.

Location: Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Desired Experience:

Experience in design, simulations, tape-out/fabrication, and measurements of micro-optical components as well as integrated photonic devices and integrated circuits.

Deep understanding of simulation tools such as Ansys Zemax and Ansys Lumerical.

Profound understanding of translation of optical simulations into 3D geometry and the ability to visualize those

Experience in measurement automation and technology transfer from lab-status into production is a plus

Knowledge of electronic circuits that interface with photonic devices and integrated circuits is a plus

Relevant research publications and/or patents in photonics is a plus

Familiarity in programming/scripting languages such as Python, Matlab, or C

Strong technical independent contributor with a proven ability to drive results

Excellent teamwork, presentation, and documentation skills

Ability to collaborate with global teams across multiple time zones and deliver under pressure with strict deadlines

Basic Qualifications:

PhD or MS degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or Physics is preferred with 5 - 8 yrs of relevant experience.

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.