Principal Power and Board Design Engineer at Astera Labs

San Jose, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Semiconductors, AI, Cloud Infrastructure, Data CentersIndustries

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field
8-10 years of experience in power and board design engineering, with a focus on ASIC or high-speed digital designs
Proficiency in Cadence OrCAD and Allegro for schematic capture and PCB layout
Strong understanding of power integrity principles and techniques
Experience with power component selection and vendor collaboration
Hands-on experience with debugging power-related issues using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes and power analyzers
Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
Strong communication and teamwork abilities
Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with high-speed interfaces such as PCIe, DDR, and USB
Familiarity with electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) considerations
Familiarity with Design for Manufacturability (DFM) considerations
Experience in thermal management and reliability analysis

Responsibilities

Develop and optimize power conversion circuits, including DC-DC converters, voltage regulators, and power modules
Design and optimize power delivery for ASICs, ensuring stable voltage and current distribution across the board. Address power integrity challenges such as voltage ripple, noise, and impedance mismatches
Develop and implement board-level designs to meet electrical and mechanical requirements with a deep understanding of PCB layout rules and constraints
Implement thermal solutions to maintain optimal operating temperatures for components
Evaluate and select appropriate power components, such as voltage regulators, capacitors, and inductors, ensuring they meet performance, thermal, and reliability specifications. Also evaluate overall system level design components
Work closely with component vendors to identify and source the best power solutions, ensuring compatibility with ASIC designs and meeting quality standards
Work closely with cross-functional teams, including firmware, mechanical, and validation engineers, to integrate designs into complete systems
Generate and maintain comprehensive design documentation, including specifications, schematics, and BOMs
Conduct thorough debugging and analysis of power-related or system level issues utilizing lab equipment such as oscilloscopes and power analyzers to identify and resolve problems

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Power IntegrityDC-DC ConvertersVoltage RegulatorsPower ModulesPCB LayoutThermal ManagementASIC Power DeliveryImpedance MatchingVoltage Ripple AnalysisComponent Selection

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What experience level is required for this Principal Power and Board Design Engineer role?

The role requires 8-10 years of experience in power and board design engineering, with a focus on ASIC or high-speed digital designs.

What technical skills are needed for this position?

Proficiency in Cadence OrCAD and Allegro for schematic capture and PCB layout is required, along with a strong understanding of power integrity.

What is the required education for this role?

A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field is required.

What does the team collaboration look like in this role?

You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including firmware, mechanical, and validation engineers, to integrate designs into complete systems.

What makes a strong candidate for this Principal Power and Board Design Engineer position?

Candidates with 8-10 years of experience in power and board design for ASICs, proficiency in Cadence tools, strong power integrity knowledge, and experience evaluating power components and collaborating with vendors stand out.

Astera Labs

Semiconductor connectivity solutions for AI infrastructure

About Astera Labs

Astera Labs provides semiconductor-based connectivity solutions aimed at improving the performance of cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Their products, which include PCIe, CXL, and Ethernet solutions, are designed to facilitate high-speed data transfer, addressing the 'memory wall' issue that can limit computing performance. The company serves clients in the growing cloud AI market, including data centers and businesses that depend on AI and cloud applications. Unlike many competitors, Astera Labs has been recognized for its contributions to the semiconductor industry, being a finalist for the Global Semiconductor Alliance's Most Respected Private Semiconductor Company award. The goal of Astera Labs is to enhance the efficiency and speed of data transfer in modern computing environments, positioning itself as a leader in the semiconductor sector.

Santa Clara, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2017Year Founded

$200.8MTotal Funding

IPOCompany Stage

Data & Analytics, Hardware, AI & Machine LearningIndustries

201-500Employees

Risks

Rapid office expansion could lead to financial strain if growth in demand falters.

Foray into biotechnology may divert resources from core semiconductor business.

Reliance on Nvidia partnership poses risk if strategic focus shifts or partnership disrupts.

Differentiation

Astera Labs offers the industry's first PCIe 6 switch, Scorpio, for AI infrastructure.

The company focuses on overcoming the 'memory wall' in high-speed data transfer solutions.

Astera Labs integrates AI with biotechnology, diversifying beyond traditional semiconductor applications.

Upsides

Astera Labs' relocation to San Jose triples its operational capacity and talent acquisition.

Strategic partnership with Nvidia enhances Astera Labs' credibility in AI and semiconductor markets.

Recent investments from major financial entities indicate strong investor confidence in growth.

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