QA Firmware Engineer

Astera Labs is a global leader in purpose-built connectivity solutions that unlock the full potential of AI and cloud infrastructure. Our Intelligent Connectivity Platform integrates PCIe®, CXL®, and Ethernet semiconductor-based solutions and the COSMOS software suite of system management and optimization tools to deliver a software-defined architecture that is both scalable and customizable. Inspired by trusted relationships with hyperscalers and the data center ecosystem, we are an innovation leader delivering products that are flexible and interoperable. Discover how we are transforming modern data-driven applications at www.asteralabs.com. 

Job Description

The mission of this role is to validate the COSMOS Firmware and associated SDKs for Astera Labs’ SoC and systems products. The COSMOS suite is a major differentiator for Astera Labs’ products and as such, it is considered equally important to the hardware. Working alongside the development team, the Firmware QA Engineer is responsible for creating test plans, coding well-defined test procedures and executing them to verify the implementation. 

Basic qualifications

• Strong academic and technical background in electrical or software engineering. At a minimum, a Bachelor’s in EE or Computer Science is required, and a Master’s is preferred.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience supporting or developing complex SoC/silicon products for Server, Storage, and/or Networking applications.
• Experience validating firmware for complex SoCs using white-box testing methodology on a per-module basis and black-box testing  for the full firmware implementation.
• Acumen to analyze customer use cases, write stress/negative tests and triage test execution failures.
• Entrepreneurial, open-minded behavior with a can-do attitude. Think and act fast with the customer in mind!
• Authorized to work in the US and available to start immediately.

Required experience

• High level of proficiency in C (preferred) or C++, including development of C-based SDKs.
• High level of proficiency in Python and test automation tools (eg. Pytest).
• Working knowledge of software/firmware build environments, gcc/Make, CI/CD tools such as Git & Jenkins.
• Direct experience working on products with high-speed interfaces common in Data Center equipment such as PCI- Express (Gen-3 and above), Ethernet (25G and above), DDR, NVMe, etc.
• Fundamental understanding of secure software including cryptography, authentication/attestation, chains of trust and common SW vulnerabilities.

Preferred experience

• Experience testing or developing embedded firmware to execute in on-chip microcontrollers and/or C-language SDKs for PCIe or Ethernet Switch products.
• Experience with security firmware solutions and familiarity with industry standards such as NIST, Open Compute Project, DMTF, etc.
• Hands-on experience with Server, Storage, and/or Networking equipment (e.g. Network Switches).

The base salary range is $140,000.00 USD – $200,000.00 USD. Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions.

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.