Optical Firmware Engineer, Principal

asteralabs· Optical
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📍 San Jose, California, United States

About this role

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.

We are seeking to hire an Optical Firmware Engineer, Principal develop, optimize, and maintain embedded firmware for optical engines, photonic integrated circuits (PICs) optical modules. This includes control of lasers, modulators, photodetectors, thermal management, calibration, and high-speed link optimization in silicon photonics systems. The role sits at the intersection of embedded systems, photonics, and hardware.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Design, develop, and debug real-time firmware for optical transceivers or PIC/EIC engines (e.g., in C/C++ for microcontrollers or embedded processors).
  • Implement algorithms for laser control, automatic power control (APC), temperature compensation, wavelength locking, and link training/adaptation.
  • Integrate firmware with hardware (DSP, drivers, ADCs/DACs) and higher-level software (e.g., via I2C, SPI, or custom interfaces).
  • Develop diagnostic, calibration, and telemetry features for manufacturing test, field monitoring, and reliability.
  • Optimize for low latency, power efficiency, and high reliability in high-speed (400G/800G/1.6T+) optical links.
  • Collaborate with optical, electrical, DSP, and system validation teams to characterize and tune performance.
  • Support bring-up, debugging, and qualification of silicon photonics prototypes.
  • Handle firmware updates, version control, and compliance with standards (e.g., OIF, CMIS).

Required Qualifications:

  • BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or related field + 12+ years of industry experience.
  • Strong experience in embedded firmware development (bare-metal or RTOS) for optical or high-speed communication systems.
  • Knowledge of photonics concepts: lasers, modulators, photodiodes, TIA, thermal tuning.
  • Proficiency in C/C++, Python (for scripting/tools), and debugging tools (JTAG, oscilloscopes, optical test equipment).
  • Experience with high-speed SerDes, signal integrity, or optical link optimization is a plus.
  • Familiarity with silicon photonics, or pluggable optics (QSFP, OSFP) is highly valued.

 

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the salary disclosed for the Optical Firmware Engineer, Principal position at asteralabs?
The salary for this Optical Firmware Engineer, Principal role at asteralabs is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Optical Firmware Engineer, Principal position at asteralabs located?
This Optical Firmware Engineer, Principal role at asteralabs is based in San Jose, California, United States. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Which team or department does the Optical Firmware Engineer, Principal at asteralabs belong to?
This Optical Firmware Engineer, Principal position is part of the Optical department at asteralabs. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Optical Firmware Engineer, Principal position at asteralabs?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to asteralabs's official application portal hosted on greenhouse where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Optical Firmware Engineer, Principal job at asteralabs posted?
This Optical Firmware Engineer, Principal position at asteralabs was posted on May 15, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Optical Firmware Engineer, Principal
asteralabs
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