Senior Principal Photonics Test Engineer

About the Position

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.

We are seeking a highly technical and hands-on Senior Principal Photonics Test Engineer to serve as the technical authority for photonics test engineering across our product portfolio. This role will define end-to-end test architectures and drive advanced test development for silicon photonics devices, subsystems, and optical modules from early R&D through high-volume manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the end-to-end test architecture and test roadmap including wafer-level testing, package-level validation, optical engine and module characterization, as well as production and reliability testing.
• Lead the development of advanced wafer probe and package-level test solutions for silicon photonics devices and subsystems.
• Architect and implement automated test flows for engineering characterization, validation, and production.
• Design, develop, and implement optical test plans and procedures for co-packaged optics modules, including silicon photonics engines, laser sources, photodetectors, and optical fiber connectors.
• Debug and resolve yield issues and critical technical challenges, including electrical/optical performance failures, process & test induced variations.
• Develop and drive the hardware and software roadmap for next-generation optical test systems.
• Collaborate across cross-functional organizations such as silicon and photonics design teams, packaging, validation, reliability and qualification teams.
• Define and implement test and yield analytics frameworks to accelerate yield learning and root cause identification.
• Provide deep technical input in Design-for-Test (DfT) and product development reviews.
• Define test specifications, acceptance criteria, and pass/fail limits based on IEEE, OIF, and internal standards.

Requirements

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Optics, Physics, Semiconductor Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in optical testing, photonic device characterization, or optical transceiver module test.
• Strong understanding of silicon photonics devices (modulators, photodetectors, multiplexers, grating couplers, edge couplers), optical probing and fiber coupling, Electro-Optical (EO) characterization, high-speed optical testing and BER measurement.
• Proven experience leading development of wafer-level and package-level optical test systems.
• Programming skills in Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or C/C++ for test automation.
• Knowledge of optical communication standards (IEEE 802.3, OIF-CEI, CMIS).
• Familiarity with statistical analysis methods and data visualization tools. Strong experience debugging yield issues and complex system-level problems.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to influence across engineering disciplines.

Nice to Have

• Experience specifically with co-packaged optics or on-board optics architectures.
• Knowledge of 2.5D/3D packaging technologies (interposers, chiplets, UCIe etc.).
• Experience with external laser source (ELS) integration and characterization.
• Experience with ATE platforms and custom photonics test setups.
• Experience in transitioning test processes from lab/prototype to high-volume manufacturing (HVM).

We Offer

• Competitive salary range of $185,000 to $240,000 depending on experience, level, and business need.
• Discretionary bonus, incentives, and benefits.

About the Company

Astera Labs is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We actively encourage everyone with relevant experience to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities.