Principal Firmware Engineer

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 .

Job Description

The mission of this role is to architect and develop firmware and microcontroller subsystems for Astera Labs’ SoC and systems products. Firmware is responsible for implementing the major differentiating features of Astera Labs’ products. As such, firmware is considered equally important to the hardware, and the firmware team is often customer-facing accordingly to ensure the needs of the customer are fully comprehended.

Basic qualifications

Strong academic and technical background in Electronics/Electrical/Computer Science engineering. At a minimum, a bachelor’s is required, and a Master’s is preferred.

Minimum 10 years’ experience supporting or developing complex SoC /silicon products for Server, Storage, and/or Networking applications.

Experience developing firmware to execute in on-chip microcontrollers as well as C-language software development kits (SDKs) to execute on system management controllers (e.g. BMC ).

Experience working with logic designers to architect and verify HW-SW interfaces on complex SoCs.

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

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

Required experience

MQX RTOS or ThreadX Development or enablement

High level of proficiency in C (preferred) or C++, including development of C-based SDKs

High level of proficiency in Python for automating pre-processors/post-processors and FW QC

Working knowledge of software/firmware build environments, gcc/Make, Doxygen, and GitHub.

Hands-on experience with Server, Storage, and/or Networking equipment (e.g. Network Switches).

Familiarity with SoC interfaces to common IP blocks such as PCIe Controllers, DDR Controllers, NVME Controllers, AMBA / AHB interfaces, on-chip memory interfaces, and other similar interfaces

Direct experience working on products with high-speed interfaces common in Data Center equipment: PCI - Express (Gen-3 and above), 100/400G Ethernet, Infiniband, DDR , NVMe , USB, etc.

Experience and deep understanding of the L1, L2 and L3(good to have), and solid understanding of the IEEE 802.3(802.3df, 802.3db (good to have), 802.3de, 802.33dd).

Experience developing the firmware for any of the TCP/IP based SoC (switch SoC or NIC function SoC) focusing on all aspects of RAS and its interface development for better user experience. 

Preferred experience

Experience developing firmware to execute in on-chip microcontrollers as well as C-language SDKs to execute on system management controllers (e.g. BMC )

Experience developing embedded firmware for PCIe or Ethernet Switch products

Experience with industry forums and collaboration workgroups such as OCP and OpenBMC

  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.