# Principal Design Verification Engineer- SerDes/PHY IP at Astera

> United States · Principal · Software engineering · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aasteralabs%3A4748151005 (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: 2026-10-27 (10 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/4748151005
- Skills listed (inferred): Python

## 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 hiring a Principal Design Verification Engineer to own functional verification of our high-speed SerDes/PHY IP — the connectivity engine powering rack-scale AI infrastructure. You will architect verification environments, drive coverage closure, and ensure first-pass silicon success on the analog/digital boundary that defines next-generation AI systems.

This is a high-impact, hands-on role at the heart of Astera Labs' hyper-growth story. You'll partner directly with PHY analog/mixed-signal designers, digital architects, and SoC integration teams to verify multi-Gbps SerDes blocks that ship into the world's most advanced AI platforms, including UALink, UCIe, PCIe Gen 6/Gen 7, and Ethernet-based connectivity products.

### Key Responsibilities

### Verification Architecture & Strategy

- Architect UVM-based verification environments for SerDes/PHY IP, including PMA, PCS, and PHY-MAC interface layers
- Define verification plans, coverage models, and sign-off criteria for high-speed serial link blocks
- Drive methodology decisions across analog/mixed-signal co-simulation, gate-level simulation, and emulation flows
### Execution & Coverage Closure

- Develop SystemVerilog/UVM testbenches, sequences, scoreboards, and reference models for multi-Gbps SerDes lanes
- Execute functional, performance, and corner-case verification across equalization, CDR, training, and link bring-up scenarios
- Lead coverage analysis and closure, debug failures with designers, and drive regressions to clean tape-out
### Physical Layer & Protocol Verification

- Verify PHY behavior against industry specifications including PCIe Gen 6/Gen 7, UALink, UCIe, and Ethernet PHY standards
- Model and validate channel behavior, link training state machines, and analog handoff scenarios
- Partner with analog/AMS designers on Real Number Modeling (RNM) and behavioral models for SerDes blocks
### Cross-Functional Leadership

- Mentor junior DV engineers and set technical direction across the verification team
- Collaborate with SoC integration, firmware, post-silicon validation, and customer engineering teams
- Contribute to verification IP reuse strategy and tooling improvements across product lines
### Basic Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
- 8+ years of design verification experience on high-speed SerDes, PHY, or mixed-signal IP
- Strong understanding of the physical layer, including equalization (CTLE, DFE, FFE), CDR, training sequences, and link bring-up
- Expert-level proficiency in SystemVerilog and UVM
- Hands-on experience with analog/mixed-signal co-simulation and Real Number Modeling (RNM)
- Working knowledge of one or more high-speed serial protocols: PCIe, UALink, UCIe, Ethernet, or CXL
### Preferred Qualifications

- MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
- Experience verifying PCIe Gen 6/Gen 7, UALink, or UCIe SerDes/PHY IP
- Familiarity with emulation platforms (Palladium, Veloce, or ZeBu) and gate-level simulation flows
- Scripting proficiency in Python or Perl for verification automation and regression management
- Experience supporting post-silicon bring-up and correlating pre-silicon coverage with silicon results
- Proven ability to lead technically across a multi-disciplinary team in a fast-paced environment

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Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aasteralabs%3A4748151005 and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.