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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. Discover more at www.asteralabs.com . Job Summary We are seeking a motivated and hands-on Tech Lead – Optical Test Engineer to contribute to the development and deployment of optical test solutions for silicon photonics devices and optical modules. This role will support definition of test methodologies, drive key portions of test development, and lead technical efforts within a broader test organization. The ideal candidate has solid experience in optical testing, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate across teams to enable efficient characterization, validation, and production testing. Key Responsibilities Define and implement optical test architectures and test flows across optical wafer probe test, package level test & characterization and optical module validation. Execute characterization and qualification testing of CPO components and assemblies. Perform high-speed optical measurements including insertion loss, return loss, extinction ratio, eye diagram analysis, BER testing, and optical modulation amplitude (OMA). Characterize optical performance parameters such as wavelength accuracy, channel spacing, spectral linearity, and crosstalk for WDM-based CPO architectures. Design and build optical test stations incorporating fiber alignment systems, optical switches, tunable lasers, optical spectrum analyzers, high-speed oscilloscopes, and BER testers. Develop test automation software, automated test scripts & frameworks using Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or similar platforms. Implement high-throughput test solutions suitable for wafer-scale and production-level testing. Analyze large-scale optical test data to identify trends, failure modes, and yield-limiting factors. Generate statistical reports (Cpk, GR&R, SPC) to monitor process stability and test repeatability. Collaborate with design and process engineering teams to provide feedback for performance optimization. Create and maintain test documentation, SOPs, and knowledge base articles. Interface with external suppliers and foundries on silicon photonics wafer-level test requirements. Participate in design reviews to ensure testability and provide DFT (Design for Test) recommendations. Required Qualifications M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or a related discipline. 5–7+ years of experience in optical testing, photonic device characterization, or optical transceiver development. Strong understanding of silicon photonics devices (modulators, photodetectors, multiplexers, grating couplers, edge couplers). Hands-on experience with optical test equipment: OSA, OMA, tunable lasers, polarization controllers, power meters, high-speed real-time oscilloscopes, BERT/pattern generators. Proficiency in high-speed optical link testing (100G/lane and above, PAM4, NRZ). Programming skills in Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or C/C++ for test automation. Knowledge of optical communication standards (IEEE 802.3, OIF-CEI, CMIS). Familiarity with statistical analysis methods and data visualization tools. Preferred Qualifications Experience specifically with co-packaged optics or on-board optics architectures. Experience with wafer-level optical probing and testing tool hardware & software as well as automated photonics test platforms. Experience in transitioning test processes from lab/prototype to high-volume manufacturing (HVM). 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. 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.
Here's how to pick the right one and stand out in your application.
144.883Jobs
31.687IN
81%EN
That number is real. WorkMundi's database shows 144,883 open engineer roles across the world. India has the most with 31,687 jobs, followed by the United States with 30,084. If you just finished reading one job ad and felt paralyzed by choice, you're not alone—but this scale is actually an advantage. It means you can afford to be selective.
Start by geography and language. The majority of engineer ads—117,837 of them—have the job posting text written in English. Use that as one filter, but remember: the ad text language tells you nothing about whether the role actually requires you to speak English day-to-day. Read the job description carefully. Then check which countries have the volume you're targeting. Singapore, Poland, and Australia round out the top five after India and the US.
Next, learn who's hiring. Accenture has posted 2,801 engineer roles. andurilindustries, speechify, and jobgether are also actively recruiting. If you're applying to one of these names, research their hiring patterns and interview style before you apply. That homework pays off.
When you interview, expect the question every engineer hears: 'Tell me about a time you had to debug a problem that wasn't in your job description.' Have a specific story ready—not a general one. Name the tools, the deadline pressure, and what you learned. Hiring managers listen for whether you see problem-solving as part of the role itself, not a favour.