# Senior Principal Photonics Test Engineer at Astera

> United States · Principal · QA / Test · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aasteralabs%3A4696244005 (read 2026-11-06).

## Facts (observed)

- Company: [Astera](https://alderhq.app/companies/astera)
- Location text: San Jose, California, United States; San Jose
- Where it can be done from (inferred): United States (evidence: "Location: San Jose, California, United States; San Jose")
- Posted: 2026-05-19 (171 days ago)
- First seen by alder: 2026-11-02 · last verified: 2026-11-04
- Reposted: 0 times · edited: 0 times
- Apply on the employer's site: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/asteralabs/jobs/4696244005
- Skills listed (inferred): Python, C++

## Pay and sponsorship

- Posted pay: not posted
- Market band for similar posted roles (SF Bay Area, n 4): p25 $212k, median $225k, p75 $229k

## Description (the employer's text)

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.

Job Summary

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.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in silicon photonics test methodologies, strong system-level thinking, and a proven ability to solve complex yield and performance challenges while building scalable, automated test solutions.

Key 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
Required Qualifications

- 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.
Preferred Qualifications

- 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.

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Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aasteralabs%3A4696244005 and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.