# Principal Product Application Engineer - PCIe at Astera

> United States · Principal · Software engineering · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aasteralabs%3A4697866005 (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: 2026-05-20 (170 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/4697866005

## Pay and sponsorship

- Posted pay: not posted
- Market band for similar posted roles (SF Bay Area, n 192): p25 $226k, median $270k, p75 $320k
- H-1B filings at this company for similar roles, FY26: 1 ([US DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/performance))

## 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.

### Role Overview

Astera Labs is seeking a Principal Product Applications Engineer to join our Aries PCIe Retimer team and serve as a critical technical bridge between our customers and engineering organization. As AI infrastructure demands explode, our Aries Smart Retimers are enabling the high-speed, low-latency PCIe connectivity that powers the world's most advanced data centers—and you'll be at the center of that growth.

In this high-impact role, you'll work directly with hyperscalers, OEMs, and system builders to drive successful adoption of our Aries PCIe products. You'll combine deep technical expertise with customer-facing skills to solve complex system-level challenges, create compelling technical documentation, and influence product direction based on real-world customer needs. This is an opportunity to shape how next-generation AI and cloud infrastructure connects and scales.

You'll collaborate cross-functionally with design engineering, validation, sales, and marketing teams while building strong relationships with customers who are defining the future of computing. If you thrive at the intersection of cutting-edge silicon and customer success, this role offers exceptional visibility and impact.

### Key Responsibilities

### Customer Technical Engagement

- Serve as the primary technical resource for customers during pre-sales evaluation and post-sales deployment of Aries PCIe retimers
- Deliver technical presentations, product training, and demonstrations to customer engineering teams
- Build trusted advisor relationships with key accounts and drive product adoption
### System-Level Debug & Validation Support

- Lead root cause analysis and debugging of complex PCIe signal integrity and protocol issues in customer systems
- Support customer lab bring-up, characterization, and validation activities
- Develop and execute test plans to reproduce and resolve customer-reported issues
### Technical Documentation & Enablement

- Create application notes, reference designs, and best practices guides for PCIe system implementation
- Develop 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 customer engagements
- Represent the voice of the customer in internal roadmap and feature discussions
### 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 PCIe architecture, protocol, and electrical specifications (Gen4/Gen5/Gen6)
- Hands-on experience with lab equipment including oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and BERT tools
- Experience debugging high-speed serial interfaces at both the physical and protocol layers
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to explain complex technical concepts
- Develop and modify firmware using C to implement features, optimize performance, and resolve technical issues
- Travel to customer sites worldwide to provide on-site technical support, conduct system integration, and drive issue resolution

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Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aasteralabs%3A4697866005 and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.