Principal Product Applications Engineer - Ethernet

Astera Labs · San Francisco

Otherposted 3mo ago

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

Astera Labs is seeking a Principal Product Applications Engineer to join our Taurus Ethernet Smart Cable Modules team and drive customer success at the forefront of AI infrastructure connectivity. As data centers scale to meet explosive AI workload demands, our Taurus products are enabling the high-bandwidth, low-latency Ethernet fabric connections that power next-generation GPU clusters and disaggregated computing architectures.

In this role, you'll be the technical expert customers rely on to successfully deploy Taurus Ethernet solutions in their most demanding environments. You'll work hands-on with hyperscalers, OEMs, and AI system builders to debug complex physical layer challenges, deliver technical enablement, and ensure seamless product integration. Your customer insights will directly influence how we evolve our products to meet the market's most pressing connectivity needs.

This is a unique opportunity to combine deep Ethernet and physical layer expertise with meaningful customer impact at a hyper-growth company defining the future of AI connectivity. You'll collaborate across engineering, sales, and product teams while building relationships with the world's most innovative technology companies.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Technical Engagement
- Serve as the primary technical resource for customers evaluating and deploying Taurus Ethernet Smart Cable Modules
- Deliver technical presentations, product training, and hands-on demonstrations to customer engineering teams
- Build trusted relationships with key accounts and drive successful product adoption
System-Level Debug & Validation Support
- Lead root cause analysis and debugging of complex Ethernet physical layer and link issues in customer systems
- Support customer lab bring-up, characterization, and system validation activities
- Develop and execute test plans to reproduce and resolve customer-reported issues
Technical Documentation & Enablement
- Create application notes, integration guides, and best practices documentation for Ethernet system implementation
- Develop technical collateral that accelerates customer time-to-deployment
- Contribute to product documentation including datasheets and user guides
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with product management and engineering to translate customer feedback into product requirements
- Support sales teams with technical expertise during pre-sales and post-sales engagements
- Represent voice of the customer in internal roadmap discussions and feature prioritization
Willingness to travel for work within US and to Asia.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
8+ years of experience in applications engineering, technical support, or system engineering roles
Strong understanding of Ethernet physical layer specifications (100G/200G/400G/800G)
Hands-on experience with lab equipment including oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and BER test tools
Experience debugging high-speed serial interfaces and signal integrity challenges
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to convey complex technical concepts

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with optical modules, active cables, or similar high-speed connectivity components
Familiarity with AI/ML system architectures, GPU clusters, or data center networking
Background in signal integrity analysis and simulation
Scripting proficiency (Python, TCL) for test automation and data analysis
Prior experience working with hyperscale or enterprise data center customers
Knowledge of Ethernet consortium specifications and industry standards

Salary range is $158,400 to $230,000 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.