Hardware Lab Engineer Intern

Location: San Jose, California (on-site)
Employment type: Paid, hourly internship

About Astera Labs

Astera Labs develops purpose-built connectivity solutions for rack-scale AI infrastructure. Our Intelligent Connectivity Platform brings together technologies including PCIe®, CXL®, Ethernet, NVLink, and UALink™ to help customers build high-performance, flexible systems.

The role

As a Hardware Lab Engineer Intern, you will work hands-on in the lab to assemble, program, test, and troubleshoot hardware products and evaluation platforms. You will support product bring-up and validation across lab hardware and software, help automate repeatable workflows, and collaborate with engineers across hardware, validation, firmware, and manufacturing.

This internship is an opportunity to build practical experience at the hardware/software boundary while contributing to connectivity products used in demanding AI, cloud, server, and networking environments.

What you’ll do

• Assemble, program, test, and help fulfill selected hardware products and evaluation platforms.

• Support PCBA bring-up, including board programming, debugging, and board-level troubleshooting.

• Use laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, vector network analyzers, and sourcemeters to investigate hardware behavior and test results.

• Develop or extend scripts and software—especially in Python, with C/C++ or Java also relevant—to automate instrument control, testing, and data collection.

• Execute structured validation and characterization activities, document observations and defects, and communicate findings clearly.

• Help maintain accurate lab documentation, test instructions, build information, and issue-tracking records.

• Work with multidisciplinary engineering teams to diagnose problems, close action items, and improve lab and product workflows.

• Learn and apply concepts related to signal integrity, S-parameters, SERDES, jitter, PCIe®, and other high-speed serial interfaces.

What you bring

Basic qualifications

• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.

• Strong foundation in analog and digital circuit fundamentals.

• Coursework, project, research, or hands-on experience with electronics, hardware systems, or software-controlled test equipment.

• Familiarity with laboratory equipment and a methodical approach to measurement and troubleshooting.

• Strong scripting or software-development experience in Python or another programming language.

• Strong written and verbal communication, organization, and time-management skills.

• A hands-on work ethic, curiosity, and ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-moving environment.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience using Python to automate or control lab instruments.

• Experience with microcontrollers, Arduino or Raspberry Pi projects, custom PCs, or similar hardware/software systems.

• Experience with printed-circuit-board assembly, PCBA bring-up, board programming, or electronics debugging.

• Familiarity with Cadence Allegro or comparable electronics design tools.

• Knowledge of signal integrity, S-parameters, SERDES architecture, or jitter decomposition.

• Exposure to PCI Express (PCIe®), USB, or other high-speed serial interfaces.

Internship experience and compensation

This is a paid, hourly U.S. internship. The applicable hourly rate is determined as part of the offer process and specified in the offer letter, depending on education level ranges form $35/hour to $55/hour. U.S. interns currently receive a $500-per-week housing/relocation stipend for the duration of the internship. Interns participate in Early Career programming, including technical and professional-development sessions, community events, and an end-of-program project presentation.

Equal opportunity

Astera Labs is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage anyone with relevant experience to apply.