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← Astera Labs

Principal Electrical Design Engineer

Astera Labs
Location
San Jose, California, United States
Posted
17 days ago
Department
Hardware Engineering
Salary
$185,000 - $240,000
What they actually want (must-haves)
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field; advanced degree preferred
  • 12+ years of progressive hardware design experience with deep expertise in board-level electrical engineering
  • Extensive track record of architecting and delivering production hardware for server, networking, storage, or high-performance compute systems
  • Expert-level experience with high-speed SerDes-based systems supporting Ethernet, PCIe, or related protocols
  • Expert understanding of signal integrity fundamentals
  • Expert power integrity and PDN design knowledge
Nice to have
  • Experience defining architecture for NIC cards or PCIe add-in card platforms
  • Experience leading server chassis or system board design programs
  • Deep expertise with 800G Ethernet and emerging 1.6T electrical interfaces
  • Experience architecting solutions using retimers and high-speed interconnect subsystems
  • Expertise in compliance and validation workflows for PCIe and Ethernet platforms
What the job really is

The Principal Electrical Design Engineer will lead the architecture and design of advanced board-level hardware for high-performance connectivity platforms, including NIC cards and PCIe systems. This role involves defining technical strategies, overseeing complex hardware development, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product delivery from concept through production. The engineer will also mentor other engineers and represent the hardware engineering team in various technical reviews and engagements.

Benefits
  • Base pay range for this role is $185,000 - $240,000, determined by location and experience
Things to weigh
  • On-site role in San Jose, California
  • High level of responsibility and influence expected in this principal-level position
  • No specific mention of additional benefits or perks beyond salary
Job score4/5
Benefits1/5
Freshness4/5
Career value5/5
Role clarity5/5
Pay transparency5/5

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