Principal Solutions Architect – Systems and Boards

Astera Labs; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a Principal Solutions Architect to lead the design of advanced data center systems. This role involves collaborating with customers and partners to create optimal architectures using cutting-edge AI connectivity and memory products. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in high-speed board design and a strong academic background in electrical or computer engineering. Join a team that values creativity and diversity, and contribute to transformative solutions in the data-driven landscape. If you are passionate about technology and eager to make an impact, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in data center industry focusing on compute and AI architectures.
• Strong background in high-speed board design and system specifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-sales support for board/system engineering.
• Drive innovative system design and architecture collaboration.

Skills

High-speed board design techniques

Signal integrity analysis

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering

Master's in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium

Allegro

Job description

Principal Solutions Architect – Systems and Boards

Astera Labs is a global leader in purpose-built connectivity solutions that unlock the full potential of AI and cloud infrastructure. Our Intelligent Connectivity Platform integrates PCIe, CXL, and Ethernet semiconductor-based solutions and the COSMOS software suite of system management and optimization tools to deliver a software-defined architecture that is both scalable and customizable. Inspired by trusted relationships with hyperscalers and the data center ecosystem, we are an innovation leader delivering products that are flexible and interoperable. Discover how we are transforming modern data-driven applications at www.asteralabs.com.

Job Description

We are seeking a Solutions Architect with expertise in datacenter board, system, and rack design who will work closely with customers, cloud service providers, server manufacturers, and OEMs to design solutions with Astera Labs’ diverse range of AI connectivity and memory products.

Key Responsibilities

• Board/system engineering technical lead for pre-sales support
• Lead concept proposal studies for board and system level layouts to help customers and Astera Labs define optimal architectures for existing Astera Labs devices or potential products/package options.
• Complete layout, component placement, signal integrity, power integrity, and other board/system level studies for custom solutions
• Assist product engineering on device packaging solutions based on system level input by running routing studies with different ball maps, ball pitches, package sizes, etc.
• Drive innovative system level design, definition, and architecture by collaborating closely with product and engineering teams
• Track, evaluate, and contribute to evolving AI rack-level architectures from electrical, SI, and power perspectives
• Represent Astera Labs at standards organizations and industry events
• Write technical publications (blog posts, whitepapers, etc) about PCB / board layout best practices, examples using Astera Labs devices, and system level design challenges

Basic Qualifications

• Strong academic/technical background in electrical engineering or computer engineering; Bachelor’s is required; Master’s preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in the data center industry working on compute, storage, networking, or AI system architectures
• Proven track record of delivering high-speed board and system designs to production
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners

Required Experience

• Strong background in high-speed board design techniques and methodologies in data center system design
• Experience with high-speed NRZ/PAM4 SerDes channels, and signal integrity analysis
• Experience with data center power systems, components, and power integrity analysis
• Proficient in schematic design, reviews, and tools
• Ability to complete PCB layout including high speed routing, routing studies, ball map studies, pin mapping, component placement, etc.
• Proficient in PCB layout software (Altium, Allegro, etc.)
• Familiar with high-speed protocols such as PCIe (3.0 and above), CXL, Ethernet (25G and above), etc.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers, PCB vendors, and other external suppliers
• Experience working with mechanical and thermal teams to create achievable system design specifications.

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.