# Optical / Photonics Validation Engineering, Senior Director at Astera Labs

- Company: Astera Labs
- What the company does: Astera Labs: Purpose-Built Connectivity for Rack-Scale AI.
- Company website: https://www.asteralabs.com
- Type: Startups
- Level: Principal and up
- Location: San Jose, California, United States
- Work setup: On-site
- Pay: $260K to $295K base salary per year (USD)
- Posted: 2026-07-31
- Apply by: 2026-10-12
- Apply: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/asteralabs/jobs/4645300005
- Page: https://www.1752.vc/careers/jobs/astera-labs-optical-photonics-validation-engineering-senior-director/

## About the role

We are looking for an Optical Validation Engineering, Senior Director to drive the characterization, validation, and qualification of near-packaged optics (NPO) and co-packaged optics (CPO) systems. In this role, you will define and implement the validation approach that ensures the optical, electrical, and thermal performance of advanced photonic interconnects used in next-generation data center and networking platforms.

## What they're looking for

- M.S. or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or equivalent field
- 8+ years of experience in optical module testing, photonic component validation, or high-speed interconnect qualification
- Deep understanding of optical measurements (IL, RL, BER, eye diagrams, mode coupling), optical alignment, and signal characterization
- Hands-on experience with optical instrumentation (optical spectrum analyzers, BERTs, network analyzers, power meters, interferometers)
- Strong background in data analysis, automation scripting (Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB), and statistical validation methods
- Familiarity with packaging-related optical performance dependencies (thermo-mechanical stress, optical coupling efficiency, etc.)

Tags: Signal Connectivity Group