Embedded Software Engineer, Tech Lead

About this role

<div class="content-intro"><p><span data-teams="true">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 <a id="menurhut" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="http://www.asteralabs.com/" target="_blank">www.asteralabs.com</a>.</span></p></div><p></p> <h3 class="wnfdnth _1ibi0s33y _1ibi0s34u" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Role Overview</h3> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">Our analog and Ethernet connectivity products sit in the critical signal path of optical modules, copper interconnects, and high-speed networking infrastructure. Across both product lines, the firmware controlling these devices drives adaptive behaviour, calibration sequences, link management, and real-time performance, and it ends up deployed in data centers around the world. This is the kind of work where what you write actually matters.</p> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">You'll be part of a small Ottawa-based team working directly alongside senior engineers on firmware development, hardware bring-up, test automation, and day-to-day project tracking. You won't be handed a narrow slice of work and left alone. You'll be involved across the board, getting exposure to how analog and Ethernet connectivity products go from silicon to production.</p> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">This is a startup, and that means things move quickly and the work doesn't always fit neatly into a job description. If that sounds like your kind of environment, keep reading.</p> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">Level is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.</p> <h3 class="wnfdnth _1ibi0s33y _1ibi0s34u">Key Responsibilities</h3> <ul class="wnfdnte"> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea"><strong>Firmware Development</strong></p> <ul class="wnfdnte"> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">Write and modify embedded C firmware for analog and Ethernet connectivity devices, including register configuration, state machines, calibration sequences, and control loops</p> </li> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">Work on low-level hardware bring-up and debug alongside senior firmware engineers</p> </li> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">Contribute to features spanning analog control such as gain settings and equalization parameters, as well as Ethernet link management, SERDES configuration, and diagnostics</p> </li> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">Help maintain and improve the firmware codebase with clean, reviewable code</p> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea"><strong>Test Automation and Validation</strong></p> <ul class="wnfdnte"> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">Write Python scripts to automate test flows, collect and analyze data, and help make the team faster</p> </li> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">Work with validation teams remotely to develop and execute test plans across a range of operating conditions and corner cases</p> </li> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">Help build out CI infrastructure and automated test tooling as the team grows</p> </li> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">Contribute to characterizing firmware behaviour across analog and Ethernet configurations, link states, and failure modes</p> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea"><strong>Project and Process Contributions</strong></p> <ul class="wnfdnte"> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt _1ibi0s3f5 _1ibi0s3ce _1ibi0s3ea">Keep Jira tickets up to date, track your own work, and flag blockers early</p> </li> <li class="wnfdntd _1ibi0s33w"> <p class="wnfdntt…