From Astera Labs’s careers page.
Analog/Mixed-Signal System Test Engineer (NCG)
Job Description
As an Analog/Mixed-Signal System Test Engineer, you will join a key team developing sophisticated advanced-node CMOS products. You will help validate circuits such as PLLs, DLLs, ADCs, regulators, amplifiers, transmitters, receivers, and CDRs for electrical and optical interconnects against performance targets.
This role is designed for a highly motivated early-career engineer who can apply strong analog and mixed-signal fundamentals to lab bring-up, characterization, automation, data analysis, and debugging. You will work independently on defined technical problems while collaborating closely with experienced designers, validation engineers, and cross-functional partners.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field, completed or expected by the start date.
- Master’s or PhD training in Electrical Engineering is preferred.
- Strong fundamentals in transistor-level analog design, feedback and stability analysis, and noise and jitter analysis.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and documentation skills.
Desired Experience
- Hands-on experience through research, projects, internships, or coursework designing or validating high-speed mixed-signal circuits, including ADC/DAC data converters, RX front ends, TX drivers or serializers, low-jitter PLLs, TX/RX calibration, low-jitter clock distribution, or other high-speed analog circuits.
- Experience with lab chip bring-up, automation, data collection, data analysis, and debugging.
- Experience using lab equipment such as UXR oscilloscopes, DCA instruments, VNAs, PNAs, BERTs, or comparable measurement equipment.
- Strong programming or scripting ability in Python, MATLAB, C, or comparable languages.
- Design and tapeout experience in advanced CMOS nodes, such as 20 nm or newer, is a plus.
- Knowledge of optical transceivers, TIA design, and optical application drivers is highly desirable.
- Experience with PCB design is a plus.
- Familiarity with Verilog RTL or DSP design concepts is a plus.
- Relevant research publications or patents in analog or RF IC design are a plus.
- Demonstrated ability to work as an independent technical contributor, drive results, and collaborate effectively with a broader engineering team.
- Strong presentation skills and the ability to communicate technical findings clearly to both technical and cross-functional audiences.
What You’ll Do
- Develop and execute system-test and validation activities for advanced-node CMOS products and high-speed electrical or optical interconnect circuits.
- Bring up lab silicon, automate measurements, collect and analyze data, and debug performance issues to help determine root causes.
- Characterize circuit behavior using appropriate laboratory equipment and measurement methods.
- Build or improve Python, MATLAB, C, or similar scripts for test automation, data reduction, visualization, and repeatable analysis.
- Partner with circuit designers and validation teams to translate performance targets into test plans, experiments, and actionable findings.
- Document test methods, results, limitations, and recommendations in clear technical reports and presentations.
- Contribute to debugging and improvement of mixed-signal systems while balancing measurement quality, schedule, and technical risk.
- Share knowledge, participate in design and validation reviews, and help establish effective laboratory and documentation practices.
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.
The base range for this role is between $150k - $175k annually
