Principal Optical Reliability Engineer

Role Overview 

Astera Labs is seeking an experienced and hands-on Principal Optical Reliability Engineer to drive reliability strategy across our cutting-edge portfolio of connectivity products, with a focus on silicon photonics and optical components. As AI infrastructure demands unprecedented bandwidth and performance, this role is critical to ensuring our products deliver exceptional reliability through end-of-life. 

You will lead reliability initiatives and serve as an internal consultant, defining and implementing methodologies across component, chiplet, photonic, and board-level products. This is a high-impact position where you'll partner closely with design, product/test engineering, quality, and manufacturing teams to embed reliability-aware principles. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Reliability Strategy & Methodology 
  • Develop and implement comprehensive design reliability methodologies for semiconductor circuits and optical systems, including pre-qualification, production release, ongoing reliability monitoring (ORM), and soft error evaluation 
  • Lead the application of advanced reliability modeling techniques to analyze trade-offs between performance and long-term product reliability 
  • Establish and refine usage models to guide design-phase reliability assessments and integrate learning from manufacturing and field return data in post-silicon validation 
• Failure Analysis & Root Cause 
  • Apply expert knowledge of semiconductor and optical reliability failure mechanisms, including Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), Latch-Up (LU), Soft Errors, Gate Oxide Time-Dependent Dielectric Breakdown (GOX TDDB), Electromigration, Device Aging, laser degradation, and photodetector wear-out 
  • Utilize a hands-on approach to comprehend silicon, photonic, and package-level failure mechanisms, collaborating seamlessly with internal and external teams to drive root cause analysis and resolution 
  • Evaluate qualification results for new product introductions and drive continuous improvement in design-for-reliability tools, processes, and organizational knowledge 
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Vendor Management 
  • Collaborate across design, product engineering, manufacturing, and reliability teams to capture and institutionalize best practices that improve product robustness and reduce DPPM 
  • Serve as a subject matter expert helping design engineers incorporate reliability-aware design principles early in development 
  • Work closely with vendors to review and interpret component specifications, reliability data, and qualification reports, including Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), failure-rate predictions, derating analysis, and stress test results 

Basic Qualifications 

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Photonics, or a related field 
• 8+ years of experience in semiconductor reliability, with direct experience in silicon photonics, optical components, or optoelectronic device reliability 
• Strong background in semiconductor physics, device modeling, and reliability verification techniques including statistical and probability techniques 
• Deep knowledge of advanced packaging technologies, including 2.5D, 3D, and chiplet architectures, as well as module and system board reliability 
• Working knowledge of electronic components/devices and their failure modes and mechanisms 
• Proven leadership in driving complex technical issues to closure across global, cross-functional teams 

Preferred Qualifications 

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or Photonics 
• Experience with silicon photonics reliability, including laser aging, photodetector degradation, and fiber coupling reliability 
• Knowledge of high-performance compute and AI cloud infrastructure, as well as switch/network interfaces 
• Experience with PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) design, fabrication, and validation testing 
• Strong experience in product reliability in the context of mechanical, thermal, and electrical stresses for modules and board assemblies 
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate technical concepts clearly across all levels of the organization 
• Salary range is $185,000 to $230,000 depending on experience, level, and business need. This role may be eligible for discretionary bonus, incentives and benefits. 

 Salary range is $185,000 to $230,000 depending on experience, level, and business need. This role may be eligible for discretionary bonus, incentives and benefits.