Hardware Lab Technician

Asteralabs; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Astera Labs is seeking a proactive Hardware Lab Technician in San Jose, California. This role involves operating manual probe stations, performing DC measurements, and managing lab inventories.

The ideal candidate will possess over a year of relevant experience and an Associate’s degree in a technical field. The position focuses on collaborating with engineering teams and maintaining lab organization.

Salary ranges from $95,000 to $130,000 based on experience.

Qualifications

• 1 year of experience in a hardware lab environment.
• 1 year of experience with manual probe stations.
• Self-starter with strong organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Operate manual probe station for testing.
• Manage lab inventories and purchase supplies.
• Assist engineers with hands-on tasks including soldering.

Skills

Manual probe station operation

DC and signal integrity measurement

Inventory management

Soldering and rework

Education

Associate’s degree or equivalent technical certification in electronics engineering or related field

Tools

Oscilloscope

Multimeter

Power supply

MPI TS600-PQB

Job description

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.

Overview

Astera Labs Inc. is seeking a proactive and self‑driven Hardware Lab Technician to join our team in developing world class connectivity products for AI infrastructure.

Job Description

This role works closely with various teams within our lab, including SI/PI, validation, design, NPI, and more. You will also be responsible for organizing and managing an inventory of consumables and peripherals while providing comprehensive support for lab infrastructure and daily operations. The ideal candidate will have hands‑on technical skills, a strong work ethic, and the ability to manage various responsibilities in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate a manual probe station (MPI TS600‑PCB) to probe printed circuit boards and components
• Perform DC and signal integrity measurements on PCBs and evaluation hardware
• Manage critical inventories of Astera products, tools, consumables, and peripherals, including purchasing, organizing, monitoring, and forecasting
• Assemble, inspect, and test modules/subassemblies
• Optimize and maintain lab organization
• Monitor compliance with lab policies, including ESD, cleanliness, food/drink, etc.
• Assist engineers with various other hands‑on tasks, including soldering and rework of SMDs on high‑density PCBAs

Required Qualifications

• 1 year of experience in a hardware lab environment
• 1 year of manual probe station experience
• Associate’s degree or equivalent technical certification in electronics engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a similar field
• Self‑starter with a bias towards action
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Effective and clear communication, both written and verbal
• Ability to lift and move up to 40lbs safely

Preferred Qualifications

• 2 years of manual probe station experience
• 2 years of inventory management experience
• Comfortable performing solder rework on 0201 components, micro‑coax cables, and fly line/magnet wire
• Fluent in interpreting circuit schematics and board layouts
• Ability to troubleshoot and debug PCBAs using oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, etc.
• Familiarity with Python, Bash, and/or Linux
• Ability to clearly document and communicate findings and measurement results

The base salary range is $95,000 USD – $130,000 USD. Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions.

We know that creativity and innovation happen more often when teams include diverse ideas, backgrounds, and experiences, and we actively encourage everyone with relevant experience to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ+ and non‑binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities.