---
title: 'Principal Product Application Engineer - Leo at Astera Labs'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-product-application-engineer-leo-astera-labs-san-jose-california-yzrs41r5fdf7'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-11'
---

# Principal Product Application Engineer - Leo at Astera Labs

- **Company:** Astera Labs
- **Location:** San Jose California, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-04-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/asteralabs/jobs/4690430005

## Job description

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](http://www.asteralabs.com/).

## About the Role

As a Principal Product Applications Engineer on the Leo team, you will sit at the intersection of firmware engineering and customer-facing technical engagement. You will be a key technical resource for enabling Leo CXL Smart Memory Controllers at hyperscale customers and OEM partners — owning firmware bring-up, validation, and customer issue resolution from early silicon through production ramp.

Firmware is considered equally important to hardware at Astera Labs, and this role reflects that. You will work directly with customers to ensure their needs are fully understood and translated into firmware solutions, while collaborating closely with the internal firmware, hardware, and systems engineering teams.

This position is required onsite in San Jose, CA.

## Key Responsibilities

- Lead firmware-focused customer engagements for Leo CXL Smart Memory Controllers, including bring-up support, feature enablement, and issue triage on customer platforms
- Develop, validate, and debug firmware using C and Python across Leo's PCIe/CXL and DDR memory subsystems
- Spearhead internal and external discussions on design requirements of DDR4/DDR5 DRAM interfaces, including initialization, training, RAS (Reliability, Availability, Serviceability) features, and performance tuning
- Serve as the primary firmware technical point of contact for key customer accounts (hyperscalers, OEMs), driving issue resolution and feature demonstrations
- Interpret and implement requirements from CXL, PCIe, and JEDEC DDR specifications into robust firmware solutions
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (FW engineering, HW, systems, product management) to deliver firmware releases and customer collateral on schedule
- Develop and maintain Python-based test scripts, automation frameworks, and diagnostic tools to support validation and customer debug workflows
- Contribute to technical documentation including application notes, release notes, design guides, and customer-facing collateral
- Represent the Leo team in customer technical reviews, design-in engagements, and industry forums

## Basic Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field; Master's degree preferred
- 8+ years of experience in firmware development, product applications engineering, or a related technical role supporting complex SoC/silicon products for Server, Storage, and/or Networking applications
- Professional attitude with the ability to prioritize a dynamic list of tasks and work with minimal guidance
- Entrepreneurial, open-minded behavior and can-do attitude — think and act fast with the customer in mind!
- Authorized to work in the US and available to start immediately

Required Experience

- High proficiency in C for embedded firmware development in RTOS environments
- Working knowledge of CXL (Compute Express Link) — CXL 1.1/2.0/3.0 — including memory expansion, pooling, and sharing concepts
- Proficiency in Python for scripting, test automation, and diagnostic tooling
- Deep hands-on knowledge of high-speed memory interfaces — DDR4 and/or DDR5 DRAM — including initialization sequences, training algorithms, timing margins, and ECC/RAS features
- Experience with firmware bring-up, debug, and validation of memory or I/O subsystems on server platforms
- Strong debugging skills with the ability to triage and root-cause issues in complex embedded systems
- Familiarity with SoC interfaces including DDR controllers, PCIe controllers, and on-chip memory subsystems
- Experience working with developer workflows: SCM (preferably Git), code reviews, CI/CD pipelines

## Preferred Experience

- Experience with PCIe endpoint firmware at the PHY, Link, and Transaction layers; familiarity with PCIe enumeration, MSI/MSI-X, SR-IOV, and error handling
- Hands-on experience with PCIe/CXL protocol analyzers, BERT, and other lab debug equipment
- Familiarity with BIOS/BMC/OS interactions with PCIe/CXL devices and MMIO/RAS concepts
- Experience with server memory performance tuning — latency and bandwidth optimization
- Prior customer-facing or field applications experience in a semiconductor or systems company is a strong plus

## Compensation

The base salary range for this role is $175,000 – $230,000 USD. Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions.

Astera Labs is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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.

## About Astera Labs

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Astera Labs designs and delivers semiconductor-based connectivity solutions purpose-built to unleash the full potential of cloud and AI infrastructure.
- **Entity Type**: Public (Nasdaq: ALAB)
- **Headquarters**: Santa Clara, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2017
- **Founders**: Jitendra Mohan, Sanjay Gajendra, Casey Morrison

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Semiconductor manufacturing / AI infrastructure connectivity
- **Target customers**: B2B, primarily hyperscale cloud providers and system OEMs (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel)
- **Mission statement**: To innovate, design, and deliver semiconductor-based connectivity solutions that are purpose-built to unleash the full potential of cloud and AI infrastructure.

## Products & Services
- **Aries PCIe®/CXL™ Smart DSP Retimers**: Silicon ICs, boards, and modules that digitally recover degraded high-speed signals to extend reach and enable higher PCIe/CXL data bandwidth between compute, storage, and network controllers.
- **Taurus Ethernet Smart Cable Modules™**: Hardware modules that increase network connectivity bandwidth between servers and switches over copper media, removing rack-level Ethernet bottlenecks.
- **Leo CXL Memory Connectivity Controllers**: ICs and boards that expand, share, and pool DRAM memory to overcome processor memory bandwidth bottlenecks for AI workloads.
- **Scorpio Smart Fabric Switches**: A family of PCIe 6 fabric switches ranging from 32 to 320 lanes, including the new 320-lane Scorpio X-Series Fabric Switch for AI scale-up fabrics.
- **COSMOS Software Suite**: A connectivity system management and optimization software that enables configuration, monitoring, troubleshooting, and predictive analytics for all Astera Labs products.

## Market Standing
- **Market Cap**: ~$11.6 billion (as of mid-2026)
- **Key Metric - Revenue**: $35 million (annual, reported)
- **Key Metric - Operating Income**: $173.4 million (2025)
- **Key Metric - Net Income**: $219.1 million (2025)
- **Total Funding**: ~$810.75 million (pre-IPO), with Series C ($50M, led by Fidelity) and Series D ($150M, led by Fidelity)
- **IPO Date**: March 20, 2024
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Fidelity, NVIDIA, Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, major hyperscalers
- **Growth Signals**: 92% YoY headcount growth (675 employees); 144 active job postings (+260% YoY); expanded Taiwan operations with a new Cloud-Scale Interop Lab in 2026; shipping millions of devices across all major hyperscalers; 300+ design wins.

## Competitive Advantages
- **First-to-market innovation**: Pioneered first-to-market PCIe, Ethernet, and CXL connectivity products.
- **Patented software-defined platform approach**: Differentiates via a platform that combines silicon hardware with embedded COSMOS software, enabling flexibility, observability, and predictive analytics.
- **Deep hyperscaler relationships**: Trusted partner to the world’s largest cloud providers, with proven interoperability validated in their own Cloud-Scale Interop Lab.
- **Broad product portfolio**: Covers PCIe retimers, Ethernet cable modules, CXL memory controllers, and fabric switches—addressing the full spectrum of AI connectivity bottlenecks.
- **Strong IP and engineering talent**: 443 employees in technical roles; talent sourced from Intel (65), Marvell (37), Texas Instruments (40), AMD (22), and NVIDIA.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling AI infrastructure**: Expanding product portfolio and global footprint (12 countries) to meet surging demand for rack-scale AI.
- **Open standards leadership**: All products are grounded in open standards (PCIe, CXL, Ethernet), ensuring interoperability and broad adoption.
- **Taiwan expansion**: Growing engineering presence and Interop Lab in Taiwan to strengthen integration with leading AI platform providers and system manufacturers.
- **Continued innovation**: Shipping the new 320-lane Scorpio X-Series Fabric Switch and expanding the COSMOS software suite for fleet-level management and optimization.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Described as collaborative, ownership-driven, and focused on solving complex problems together. The company emphasizes diversity and inclusion as drivers of creativity and innovation.
- **Growth**: Astera Labs supports non-linear career growth—employees can deepen expertise (“scale up”) or broaden into new areas (“scale out”). 92% YoY headcount growth signals rapid expansion and opportunity.
- **Remote/Hybrid**: Not explicitly stated, but global operations across 12 countries (including India, Canada, Israel, Taiwan, Vietnam) suggest a flexible, distributed work model.
- **Benefits**: Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans; flexible time off; family planning and parental leave; 401K and retirement plans.
- **Engineering culture**: Strong focus on cutting-edge semiconductor and AI infrastructure technology. High concentration of senior (24%) and specialist (19%) talent. Active internship and new graduate programs.
- **Employee ratings**: 4.5/5.0 on LinkedIn (124 reviews), with high marks for compensation (4.6), culture (4.4), and career development (4.4).

## Sources
1. [Astera Labs Careers Page](https://www.asteralabs.com/careers/)
2. [Astera Labs Official Website](https://www.asteralabs.com/)
3. [Astera Labs LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/astera-labs)
4. [Astera Labs Products Page](https://www.asteralabs.com/products/)
5. [Astera Labs S-1 Filing (SEC)](https://ir.asteralabs.com/static-files/7103a4cb-aa6b-4f11-a4b0-f179cd4c5bee)

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