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# Principal Digital Design Engineer (AI Fabric)

- **Company:** Astera Labs
- **Location:** San Jose, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $185,000.0 - $230,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Computer-Aided Design, Microarchitecture, Data Centers, Software Debugging, Logic Synthesis of Circuits, Embedded Software, Ethernet, Firmware, Formal Verification, InfiniBand, PCI Express, Software Architecture, Reduced Instruction Set Computing
- **Published:** September 4, 2026
- **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/principal-digital-design-engineer-ai-fabric-astera-labs-7598641

## About the Role

* Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or equivalent.
 * 8+ years of hands-on experience developing complex SoC/silicon products in Server, Storage, and/or Networking markets

Digital Design Expertise:

 * Architecture definition and micro-architecture development
 * RTL coding, functional simulation, and synthesis
 * Timing closure and gate-level simulation (GLS)
 * Design for test (DFT) implementation
 * Production experience with advanced CMOS nodes ( 7nm)

Protocols & Integration:

 * Deep expertise in at least one high-speed protocol-PCIe , Ethernet, Infiniband, DDR, or similar
 * Third-party IP integration and verification.
 * Block-level design ownership from architecture through GDS

Tools & Methodologies:

 * Proficiency with Cadence and/or Synopsys digital design flows
 * Familiarity with UVM-based verification methodologies.
 * Silicon bring-up, debug, and failure analysis expertise, * Strong work ethic with the ability to balance multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
 * Excellent communication and collaboration skills; comfortable working cross-functionally with global teams
 * Self-directed learner who thrives with minimal supervision and adapts quickly to changing requirements
 * Customer-focused mindset with ability to translate business needs into technical excellence, * Track record of delivering multiple high-performance designs to production in data-center environments
 * Hands-on collaboration with embedded firmware teams; deep understanding of firmware development challenges and constraints
 * Familiarity with standard embedded processor subsystems (RISC-V, Arm, etc.)
 * Proven contributions to design methodology, CAD automation, or design infrastructure to improve productivity or design quality

## Description

Join our team as Principal Digital Design Engineer to architect and implement next-generation digital designs for high-performance connectivity solutions. You'll own complex blocks from micro-architecture through silicon bring-up, driving RTL implementation and collaborating with verification, PD and DFT teams to deliver high performance products in a fast-paced, collaborative environment., * Develop and implement complex digital blocks and subsystems by defining micro-architecture and driving digital design.

 * Collaborate with verification teams to develop test plans, achieve coverage closure, and debug complex issues.
 * Lead efforts to achieve timing closure and implement Design-for-Test (DFT) features for optimal design performance.
 * Work closely with post-silicon teams to facilitate silicon bring-up and debug.
 * Mentor junior engineers to develop their technical skills and expertise.
 * Actively contribute to the development and improvement of silicon development processes.
 * Drive designs to production, ensuring accountability for quality, schedule, and overall design success.


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