SoC Design Director

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 a Digital Design professional with deep expertise in high-performance controller and bridge design, micro-architecture, RTL implementation, and IP integration. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in the development of cutting-edge connectivity solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement high-performance digital solutions, including RTL development and synthesis.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on IP integration for processor IPs and peripherals
• Deep knowledge of processor boot process and peripheral implementation with boot firmware in mind
• Own block-level and full-chip designs from architecture to GDS, focusing on designs at nodes ≤ 16nm.
• Ensure timing closure, assess verification completeness, and oversee pre- and post-silicon debug.
• Utilize tools from Synopsys/Cadence to ensure first-pass silicon success and apply expertise in UVM-based verification flows

Basic Qualifications / Experience Level

• Bachelor’s in Electronics/Electrical engineering (Master's preferred).
• Minimum 15+ years of digital design experience, with focus on processor, peripherals and full chip implementation.
• Proven expertise in RTL development, synthesis, and timing closure.
• Experience with front-end design, gate-level simulations, and design verification.
• Strong work ethic, ability to handle multiple tasks, and a proactive, customer-focused attitude.

Required Expertise Proven expertise in micro-architecture development and RTL development for block level and full-chip designs at advanced nodes (- Experience with front-end design, gate-level simulations, and supporting design verification through multiple ASIC T/O cycles .

• Hands-on experience with processor IP (ARM/ARC)
• Experience of working on PCIe is a must.
• Hands-on pre-silicon and post-silicon implementing peripherals for I2C/SPI/UART
• Hands-on experience with complex DMA engines and FW interaction.
• Strong proficiency in System Verilog/Verilog and scripting (Python/Perl).
• Experience with block-level and full-chip design at advanced nodes (≤ 16nm).
• Silicon bring-up and post-silicon debug experience.
• Familiarity with industry standard simulation, debug, quality checking and synthesis tools Synopsys/Cadence tools and UVM-based design verification.
• Strong work ethic, ability to handle multiple tasks, and a proactive, customer-focused attitude.

Preferred Experience

• Knowledge and experience implementing secure boot and security mechanisms like authentication and attestation is a plus.
• Knowledge of system-level design with ARM/ARC/RISC-V processors sub systems
• Experience of working on PCIe/UAL is a big plus.
• Understanding of PAD design, DFT, and floor planning.
• Experience in synthesis, and timing closure is a big plus.
• Experience with NIC, switch, or storage product development.
• Familiarity with working in design and verification workflows in a CI/CD environment.

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.

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.