--- title: 'Staff/ Principal Physical Design STA Engineer at Astera Labs' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-principal-physical-design-sta-engineer-astera-labs-tel-aviv-yafo-ek1dj4rywjth' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-06' --- # Staff/ Principal Physical Design STA Engineer at Astera Labs - **Company:** Astera Labs - **Location:** Tel Aviv-Yafo, Tel Aviv District, Israel - **Posted:** 2026-03-18 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-06 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/asteralabs/jobs/4674520005 ## 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/). ## Role Overview Astera Labs is establishing a strategic R&D center in Israel to drive the development of complex semiconductor chips that solve the critical 'data bottlenecks' enabling the future of AI at scale. As we expand our presence in Israel, we're seeking a highly skilled Static Timing Analysis (STA) Engineer to join our local engineering powerhouse from the ground up. This is a unique opportunity to take on meaningful technical ownership in a new site, executing the sign-off methodology for chips that power the world's most advanced AI clusters. As an STA Engineer, you will be deeply involved in the STA activities from chip partition and time budgeting through to final sign-off. You will bridge the gap between Architecture, Design, DFT, and Physical Design to ensure our high-performance silicon meets the aggressive timing targets required for next-generation connectivity. ## Key Responsibilities - Execute the STA flow and sign-off methodologies, ensuring our products meet rigorous timing criteria for the most demanding data center environments - Collaborate closely with Architecture, Design, DFT, and Backend teams, participating in timing reviews and working with block owners to navigate the path to sign-off convergence - Develop, optimize, and manage complex SDC constraints, ensuring they are accurate and robust across multi-scenario environments - Analyze and resolve challenges related to cross-chip clock distribution networks and apply sophisticated margining techniques to ensure robust silicon across all process corners - Participate in design methodology improvements and tool automation, utilizing both industry-standard EDA tools and custom scripts to make our sign-off process faster and more efficient ## Basic Qualifications - B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering - 6+ years of hands-on experience in Static Timing Analysis (STA) at semiconductor companies, specifically working on advanced process technologies. (Note: Adjust years of experience based on the exact level you are targeting) - Deep expertise in multi-scenario STA, as well as timing and SDC constraint development and verification at the block and subsystem levels - Solid understanding of advanced margining methodologies, including OCV, AOCV, and POCV, from synthesis through to final sign-off - Solid knowledge of physical design flows (Synthesis, P&R, Physical Verification) and how they intersect with timing closure ## Preferred Experience - Experience developing and validating constraints using industry-standard tools like Timing Constraints Manager (Synopsys) or TimeVision (Ausdia) - Proven track record of executing STA on complex Macro-level designs and supporting Full-Chip timing integration - Strong background in scripting (Tcl, Python, Perl) and automation to enhance timing closure efficiency 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) ## Other roles at Astera Labs - [Board Supply Chain Senior Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/board-supply-chain-senior-manager-astera-labs-san-jose-mm85dnp4gdp8) — San Jose, CA - [Senior Principal Engineer - FW/SW Development](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-principal-engineer-fw-sw-development-astera-labs-san-jose-0h418pq7dd15) — San Jose, CA - [Principal Formal Verification Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-formal-verification-engineer-astera-labs-bengaluru-17hhs7pjbmt1) — Bengaluru, India - [Principal PCS/PMA RTL Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-pcs-pma-rtl-design-engineer-astera-labs-san-jose-v0c0r56v3krf) — San Jose, CA - [Lead Verification Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-verification-engineer-astera-labs-san-jose-qewac3xfs1m8) — San Jose, CA - [Senior Principal Sourcing Manager – Capital Equipment](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-principal-sourcing-manager-capital-equipment-astera-labs-san-jose-hasae3c40f3c) — San Jose, CA - [Principal AI Product Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-ai-product-manager-astera-labs-san-jose-3v5kwg3v6f63) — San Jose, CA - [Technical Lead Digital Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-lead-digital-design-engineer-astera-labs-san-jose-bdctbn8w3d2p) — San Jose, CA - [Principal Digital Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-digital-design-engineer-astera-labs-san-jose-85vrw2ekhwhf) — San Jose, CA - [Principal Physical Design CAD Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-physical-design-cad-engineer-astera-labs-tel-aviv-yafo-pexaz6mbm4xa) — Tel Aviv-Yafo, Tel Aviv District, Israel