SoC Design Director
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 Title: SoC Design Manager
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated SoC Design Manager to lead a team of engineers responsible for the design and development of next-generation System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical expertise in digital design, excellent leadership skills, and a proven track record of delivering complex SoC projects from architecture through silicon.
Roles & Responsibilities
Technology Background
- Experience of working on complex, large SoCs on latest technology nodes under tight schedules. Exposure to chiplets is desirable.
- Expertise around handling chip level design challenges around clocking, resets, power domains/distribution is a must
- Experience of working with DFT, PD, DV teams to solve critical technical challenges of cross-domain nature
- Experience of working on PCIE, UCIE, UALink, Ethernet products is highly desirable.
- Must have working knowledge of embedded processors and firmware execution to enable key SoC level features
SoC Design & Development
- Own the design and development of SoC subsystems from specification through RTL implementation.
- Review architecture and microarchitecture specifications and translate them into efficient design solutions.
- Oversee RTL coding, integration, and design reviews to ensure quality and compliance with design standards.
- Drive design closure while meeting performance, power, area, and schedule targets.
Project Execution
- Define project plans, resource allocation, and execution timelines.
- Track deliverables and ensure milestones are met on schedule.
- Identify technical and program risks and implement mitigation plans.
- Provide regular status updates to leadership and key stakeholders.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Architecture, Verification, DFT, Physical Design, Firmware, and Software teams throughout the development cycle.
- Support verification planning and debug activities to ensure robust design quality.
- Collaborate with implementation teams to address synthesis, timing, power, and integration challenges.
Quality & Process Improvement
- Establish and enforce design methodologies, coding guidelines, and best practices.
- Drive continuous improvement in design processes, productivity, and quality metrics.
- Ensure designs meet functional, performance, and reliability requirements.
Silicon Bring-Up & Product Support
- Support post-silicon validation, debug, and product qualification activities.
- Assist in root-cause analysis and resolution of silicon issues when required.
- Provide technical leadership for future product enhancements and next-generation designs.
Team Leadership & Management
- Lead, mentor, and manage a team of SoC/RTL design engineers.
- Drive team performance, career development, and succession planning.
- Participate in hiring and onboarding of new team members.
- Foster a collaborative and high-performance engineering culture.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- 15+ years of experience in ASIC/SoC design and development.
- 5+ years of experience leading engineering teams or technical projects.
- Strong expertise in RTL design using Verilog/SystemVerilog.
- Experience with SoC integration, interconnects, memory subsystems, and industry-standard protocols such as AXI, AHB, APB, PCIe, USBUALink, Ethernet, or DDR.