Embedded Software Engineer, Tech Lead
Astera LabsResponsibilities
- Write and modify embedded C firmware for analog and Ethernet connectivity devices, including register configuration, state machines, calibration sequences, and control loops.
- Perform low-level hardware bring-up and debugging alongside senior firmware engineers.
- Develop features for analog control, gain settings, equalization, Ethernet link management, SERDES configuration, and diagnostics.
- Maintain and improve the firmware codebase with clean, reviewable code.
- Write Python scripts to automate test flows, collect and analyze data, and improve team efficiency.
- Develop and execute validation plans across operating conditions and corner cases with remote validation teams.
- Help build CI infrastructure and automated test tooling.
- Characterize firmware behavior across analog and Ethernet configurations, link states, and failure modes.
- Keep Jira tickets current, track work, identify blockers, and participate in code reviews and architecture discussions.
- Collaborate with firmware, silicon design, and applications teams.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- 2 to 5 years of experience writing embedded C/C++ firmware on real hardware.
- Ability to work at the hardware/software boundary, including reading datasheets, accessing registers, and interpreting hardware behavior from software.
- Familiarity with Linux development tools including gcc/clang, make, bash, gdb, and git.
- Some experience with Python scripting for test automation, data analysis, or utility scripts.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
- Hands-on Ethernet experience at the system or device level, such as Layer 1 PHY, SERDES, retimers, gearboxes, or NICs, is preferred.
- Exposure to analog or mixed-signal systems, including ADC/DAC interfaces, calibration techniques, or signal conditioning, is preferred.
- Understanding of signal integrity concepts such as equalization, jitter, eye diagrams, or link margin is preferred.
- Experience with Jira or similar issue-tracking and project-management tools is preferred.
- Background with RTOS, device drivers, or bare-metal microcontroller firmware is preferred.
- Familiarity with oscilloscopes, BERTs, logic analyzers, or similar lab equipment is preferred.
- Prior internship or co-op experience in a semiconductor or networking hardware company is preferred.
Benefits
- Base salary range of CAD 140,000 to CAD 180,000, plus discretionary bonus, incentives, and benefits.
- Ottawa-based team working directly alongside senior engineers.
- Collaborative startup environment with exposure across firmware development, hardware bring-up, validation, and project tracking.
About Astera Labs
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™ Fusion, 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.