Embedded Software Engineer, Tech Lead

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 Our analog and Ethernet connectivity products sit in the critical signal path of optical modules, copper interconnects, and high-speed networking infrastructure. Across both product lines, the firmware controlling these devices drives adaptive behaviour, calibration sequences, link management, and real-time performance, and it ends up deployed in data centers around the world. This is the kind of work where what you write actually matters. You'll be part of a small Ottawa-based team working directly alongside senior engineers on firmware development, hardware bring-up, test automation, and day-to-day project tracking. You won't be handed a narrow slice of work and left alone. You'll be involved across the board, getting exposure to how analog and Ethernet connectivity products go from silicon to production. This is a startup, and that means things move quickly and the work doesn't always fit neatly into a job description. If that sounds like your kind of environment, keep reading. Level is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. Key Responsibilities Firmware Development Write and modify embedded C firmware for analog and Ethernet connectivity devices, including register configuration, state machines, calibration sequences, and control loops Work on low-level hardware bring-up and debug alongside senior firmware engineers Contribute to features spanning analog control such as gain settings and equalization parameters, as well as Ethernet link management, SERDES configuration, and diagnostics Help maintain and improve the firmware codebase with clean, reviewable code Test Automation and Validation Write Python scripts to automate test flows, collect and analyze data, and help make the team faster Work with validation teams remotely to develop and execute test plans across a range of operating conditions and corner cases Help build out CI infrastructure and automated test tooling as the team grows Contribute to characterizing firmware behaviour across analog and Ethernet configurations, link states, and failure modes Project and Process Contributions Keep Jira tickets up to date, track your own work, and flag blockers early Participate in code reviews and architecture discussions Communicate clearly with teammates across firmware, silicon design, and applications Basic Qualifications BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field 2 to 5 years of experience writing embedded C/C++ firmware on real hardware Comfort working at the hardware/software boundary: reading datasheets, poking registers, interpreting hardware behaviour from software Familiarity with Linux development tools: gcc/clang, make, bash, gdb, and git Some experience with Python scripting, whether for test automation, data analysis, or general utility scripts Strong communication skills and a collaborative attitude; you'll be working closely with a small team and need to keep everyone in the loop A genuine interest in digging into hard problems and the persistence to see them through Preferred Qualifications Hands-on experience with Ethernet at the system or device level: Layer 1 PHY, SERDES, retimers, gearboxes, NICs, or related device…