Senior Digital Design Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 2, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 10, 2026. Astera Labs scores B on the Alion truth index.
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.
Role Overview
As a Senior Digital Design Engineer, you will design and integrate high-performance connectivity silicon for the next generation of AI infrastructure. You will contribute across architecture, micro-architecture, RTL implementation, synthesis, timing closure, and IP integration for PCIe and Ethernet controllers, bridges, switches, and related SerDes interfaces.
You will work with cross-functional teams to turn complex connectivity requirements into robust, production-ready designs. Your work will span block-level and full-chip development at advanced process nodes and help enable reliable, high-bandwidth connections among CPUs, GPUs, memory, storage, and networking devices in rack-scale AI systems. You will help improve product quality, accelerate time to market, and strengthen customer confidence in every release.
Key Responsibilities
- Digital Architecture and RTL Implementation
- Develop micro-architecture and implement synthesizable RTL for high-performance PCIe or Ethernet controllers, bridges, switches, and SerDes-related IP.
- Translate architecture and protocol requirements into scalable designs using SystemVerilog and Verilog.
- Own block-level and full-chip design deliverables from specification through implementation and GDS handoff.
- Contribute to designs at advanced process nodes of 16 nm or smaller, including PCIe Gen 6/7, UALink, or UCI-based connectivity where applicable.
- Integration, Timing, and Design Quality
- Integrate controller, SerDes, processor, peripheral, and other IP while partnering with RTL, physical design, DFT, verification, and firmware teams.
- Drive synthesis, timing analysis, timing closure, clock-domain crossing, lint, and design-quality reviews.
- Support gate-level simulation, emulation, and pre-silicon and post-silicon design implementation activities.
- Contribute to top-level integration, floor-planning discussions, PAD planning, and DFT implementation.
- Cross-Functional Execution and Debug
- Collaborate with verification and system teams to assess verification completeness, debug design issues, and close implementation gaps.
- Partner with firmware and embedded software teams to define and validate hardware-software interfaces.
- Use Synopsys and Cadence design and analysis tools, along with Python or Perl scripting, to improve design productivity and automation.
- Communicate technical status, risks, and tradeoffs clearly while managing multiple priorities with appropriate ownership and urgency.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field.
- 2 - 5 years of experience in digital design and implementation for complex SoC or silicon products.
- Hands-on experience developing RTL in SystemVerilog or Verilog, including synthesis and timing closure.
- Experience with PCIe or Ethernet controller, bridge, switch, PCS, PHY, or SerDes design and IP integration.
- Experience with front-end design, gate-level simulation, clock-domain crossing, lint, or related design-quality methodologies.
- Experience using Python or Perl to automate design, integration, or analysis workflows.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across design, verification, physical design, DFT, firmware, and system teams.
- Authorized to work in Canada.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with PCIe or Ethernet SerDes controller or IP-level design, including PCIe Gen 6/7, UALink, or UCI.
- Experience with block-level and full-chip implementation at advanced process nodes of 16 nm or smaller.
- Knowledge of PAD design, DFT, floor planning, and top-level integration.
- Experience developing NIC, switch, storage, or other high-performance connectivity products with embedded firmware interaction.
- Familiarity with continuous integration and continuous delivery workflows for design and verification.
- Experience with FPGA-based prototyping, emulation, or post-silicon debug.
Salary range is $139,500 to $155,000 CAD depending on experience, level, and business need. This role may be eligible for discretionary bonus, incentives and benefits.
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.