Firmware Engineer Tech Lead
- Salary
- $160,000 - $240,000
- Level
- Lead
Not stated in the posting: work type, visa.
Open. First seen 2 October 2026.
About the role
Astera Labs's standard text
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 customer's needs are fully comprehended.
Basic qualifications:
- Strong academic and technical background in electrical engineering. At a minimum, a Bachelor’s in EE or Computer Science is required.
- Minimum 5 years' experience supporting or developing complex SoC/silicon products for Server, Storage, and/or Networking applications.
- Experience developing firmware to execute with on-chip microcontrollers and C-language software development kits (SDKs) to execute on system host CPUs and embedded microprocessors.
- Experience working with logic designers to implement and test HW-SW interfaces on complex SoCs.
- Professional attitude with the ability to prioritize a dynamic list of multiple tasks, 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!
- Can start immediately.
Required experience:
- High level of proficiency in C (preferred) or C++, including development of C-based SDKs and firmware.
- Experience developing boot-ROM and familiarity working in pre-Silicon environments (Simulation and emulation).
- Experience with secure boot flows (authentication, attestation & standards like DICE, Caliptra) is an asset.
- Proficient in Python for scripting.
- Ability to design, implement, and write unit-level tests.
- Working knowledge of software build environments, gcc/make.
- Experience with developer workflows, SCM (preferably git), code reviews, CI.
- Familiarity with SoC interfaces to various HW blocks, on-chip memory interfaces, and other similar interfaces that are common to chip design.
Preferred experience:
- Firmware development experience using RTOS.
Base salary range is $160,000 to $240,000 depending on experience, level, and business need. This role is eligible for discretionary bonus, incentives and benefits.
Astera Labs's standard text
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.
What this role asks for
Particular to this role
Git · RTOS
Rare in Astera Labs's other 154 open postings.
Standard for embedded / hardware roles
C++ · Embedded Systems · Python
Common in embedded / hardware postings at any company.
69% of this description is written for the role. The rest is Astera Labs's standard text, folded away below.
Read against Astera Labs's other open postings on this site.
The team: Software Engineering HIRES STEADILY
This role is one of 8 open in Software Engineering. 3 were posted in the last 30 days and the oldest in February: a team that hires all year rather than one being built.
WHAT THE TEAM WORKS WITH, ACROSS ITS POSTINGS
Embedded Systems (8 of 8), C (7 of 8), C++ (6 of 8), Python (6 of 8), Linux (4 of 8), RTOS (4 of 8), Test Automation (4 of 8)
OTHER ROLES ON THIS TEAM
- Principal FW/SW Engineer posted Oct 5
- PCIe Firmware Expert posted Oct 5
- Senior Firmware SW Engineer posted Oct 4
- Firmware Engineer Tech Lead posted Sep 1
- System Validation Engineer - All Levels (AI Fabric Switches) posted Jul 6
- Senior Embedded Software Engineer - Ethernet Retimers posted Jun 5
- Senior Director System Validation Engineer posted Feb 21
From the team and dates on Astera Labs's own job board.
Other openings for this role
2 open postings for this role in San Jose, California, United States, first posted 2 October 2026. The company is likely hiring for more than one position. None has been taken down and posted again.
- 2 October 2026 – open (this posting)
- 2 October 2026 – open
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