Director of System Validation Engineering

Astera Labs (NASDAQ: ALAB) provides rack-scale AI infrastructure through purpose-built connectivity solutions grounded in open standards. 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, 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. Discover more at www.asteralabs.com.

Astera Labs’ firmware and software are critical differentiators that have helped us win business across all CSPs and hyperscalers. We are seeking a Director of System Validation Engineering to build and scale our system validation organization, ensuring our products meet the performance, reliability, and interoperability demands of next-generation AI and data center systems.

Job Description

• Understand the performance and functionality requirements our ICs must deliver to enable customers developing Data Center systems using Astera Labs’ game-changing portfolio of connectivity products for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications.


• Own the development of a comprehensive validation plan and drive its execution. Devise test automation of ICs and board products in a data-centric manner, design experiments to root-cause unexpected behavior and report results and specification compliance.


• Engage with key customers directly to understand their care-abouts and highlight the unique capabilities and performance of Astera Labs’ solutions.

Basic Qualifications 

• Strong academic and technical background in electrical or computer engineering. At a minimum, a Bachelor’s is required, and a Master’s is preferred.


• ≥12 years experience supporting or developing complex SoC/silicon products for Server, Storage, and/or Networking applications.


• Professional attitude with the ability to prioritize a dynamic list of multiple tasks, to plan and prepare for customer/internal meetings in advance, and to work with minimal guidance and supervision.


• Entrepreneurial, open-minded behavior and can-do attitude. Think and act with the customer in mind!

Required Experience 

• ≥3 Years experience leading a team in a “lead by example” manner—planning sprints, assigning tasks based on individuals’ strengths and career aspirations, providing constructive/encouraging feedback, maintaining a “dashboard” view of project status, chipping into shore up gaps in execution as needed.


• ≥5 Years hands-on experience with Silicon/System bring-up, validation, and debug experience, including in customer systems.


• Thorough knowledge of high-speed protocols like CXL, PCIe, NVMe, or Ethernet.


• Good understanding of x86/ARM architecture, UEFI/Linux boot sequence. 


• A strong background in developing bench automation techniques, especially using Python, with emphasis on execution efficiency, repeatability, data analysis and reporting.


• Experience with lab equipment including protocol analyzers, in-circuit debuggers, and CPU-based tool suites.

Preferred Experience 

• Working knowledge of C or C++ for embedded FW and device drivers.


• Familiarity with PCIe compliance standards and the ability to follow and be involved in compliance and standard consortiums.


• Knowledge of simulation tools such as Keysight ADS, Mathworks QCD, etc. for IBIS-AMI analysis.


• Working knowledge of SerDes architecture including Tx/Rx equalization, adaptation, clock recovery and SerDes link budgets.


• Experience with PAM4 SerDes is a huge bonus!

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.