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Astera Labs

Senior Principal Photonics Test Engineer

Astera Labs · San Jose, California, United States

Posted about 3 months ago · $185,000 to $240,000

or apply directly on Astera Labs's site. We never take the application ourselves.

Is this posting real?

This role has been open
87 days
Astera Labs's roles stay open a median of 87 days
Reposted
No
Salary listed
Yes
43% of Astera Labs's roles list one
Ghost-job risk at Astera Labs
high
160 stale, 8 reposted of 160 open
Hiring momentum
218 roles opened in the last 90 days
↑ up vs. the prior 90 days
Last confirmed on the employer's board
2026-10-29

Measured from postings appearing on and disappearing from Astera Labs's own greenhouse board since 2026-08-03. Full hiring picture for Astera Labs.

About this role

The Senior Principal Photonics Test Engineer will lead the development and implementation of test architectures for silicon photonics devices and optical modules. This role involves defining test specifications, debugging yield issues, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance optical testing processes from R&D to high-volume manufacturing.

Our read on this posting3.2out of 5
benefits
1/5
freshness
1/5
career value
4/5
role clarity
5/5
pay transparency
5/5

Scored from the posting itself — how clearly the role is described, how much it says about pay and benefits, and how recently it was listed. Not a judgement of Astera Labs as an employer.

What you need

  • MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Optics, Physics, Semiconductor Engineering, or a related field
  • 10+ years of experience in optical testing, photonic device characterization, or optical transceiver module test
  • Strong understanding of silicon photonics devices and optical testing methodologies
  • Proven experience leading development of wafer-level and package-level optical test systems
  • Programming skills in Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or C/C++ for test automation
  • Knowledge of optical communication standards (IEEE 802.3, OIF-CEI, CMIS)

Nice to have

  • Experience specifically with co-packaged optics or on-board optics architectures
  • Knowledge of 2.5D/3D packaging technologies
  • Experience with external laser source integration and characterization
  • Experience with ATE platforms and custom photonics test setups
  • Experience in transitioning test processes from lab/prototype to high-volume manufacturing

What you get

  • Salary range is $185,000 to $240,000 depending on experience, level, and business need
  • This role may be eligible for discretionary bonus, incentives and benefits

Worth weighing

  • No specific mention of remote work or flexible hours
  • Salary range provided, but may vary based on experience and business need
  • The role requires deep technical expertise and may involve complex problem-solving under pressure

Summarised from Astera Labs's posting. Read the full original.

Listed by Astera Labs on their greenhouse job board, last confirmed open on 2026-10-29. PitchMeAI is not the employer.

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