Principal Product Application Engineer - PCIe

Role Overview

Astera Labs is seeking a Principal Product Applications Engineer to join our Aries PCIe Retimer team and serve as a critical technical bridge between our customers and engineering organization. As AI infrastructure demands explode, our Aries Smart Retimers are enabling the high-speed, low-latency PCIe connectivity that powers the world's most advanced data centers—and you'll be at the center of that growth.

In this high-impact role, you'll work directly with hyperscalers, OEMs, and system builders to drive successful adoption of our Aries PCIe products. You'll combine deep technical expertise with customer-facing skills to solve complex system-level challenges, create compelling technical documentation, and influence product direction based on real-world customer needs. This is an opportunity to shape how next-generation AI and cloud infrastructure connects and scales.

You'll collaborate cross-functionally with design engineering, validation, sales, and marketing teams while building strong relationships with customers who are defining the future of computing. If you thrive at the intersection of cutting-edge silicon and customer success, this role offers exceptional visibility and impact.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Technical Engagement

• Serve as the primary technical resource for customers during pre-sales evaluation and post-sales deployment of Aries PCIe retimers
• Deliver technical presentations, product training, and demonstrations to customer engineering teams
• Build trusted advisor relationships with key accounts and drive product adoption

System-Level Debug & Validation Support

• Lead root cause analysis and debugging of complex PCIe signal integrity and protocol issues in customer systems
• Support customer lab bring-up, characterization, and validation activities
• Develop and execute test plans to reproduce and resolve customer-reported issues

Technical Documentation & Enablement

• Create application notes, reference designs, and best practices guides for PCIe system implementation
• Develop collateral that accelerates customer time-to-deployment
• Contribute to product documentation including datasheets and user guides

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with product management and engineering to translate customer feedback into product requirements
• Support sales teams with technical expertise during customer engagements
• Represent the voice of the customer in internal roadmap and feature discussions

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in applications engineering, technical support, or system engineering roles
• Strong understanding of PCIe architecture, protocol, and electrical specifications (Gen4/Gen5/Gen6)
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment including oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and BERT tools
• Experience debugging high-speed serial interfaces at both the physical and protocol layers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to explain complex technical concepts
• Develop and modify firmware using C to implement features, optimize performance, and resolve technical issues
• Travel to customer sites worldwide to provide on-site technical support, conduct system integration, and drive issue resolution

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with PCIe retimers, redrivers, or similar connectivity components
• Familiarity with server, storage, or GPU system architectures
• Background in signal integrity analysis and simulation tools
• Scripting proficiency (Python, TCL) for test automation and data analysis
• Prior experience working directly with hyperscale or enterprise data center customers
• Track record of creating high-quality technical documentation and application notes

Salary range is $170,500 to $220,000 depending on experience, level, and business need. This role may be eligible for discretionary bonus, incentives and benefits.