Optical Test Engineering, Senior Director

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.

Senior Director, Optical Test Engineering

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Director of Optical Test Engineering to lead the development, validation, and manufacturing support of advanced integrated optical interconnect solutions. This role focuses on optical-electrical integration at the module level, bridging transceiver and compute platform interfaces with comprehensive test strategy and execution.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute the optical test engineering roadmap for next-generation interconnect architectures
• Establish testing methodologies and standards for tightly integrated optical-electrical assemblies
• Lead cross-functional teams across optical design, electrical engineering, manufacturing, and quality
• Develop partnerships with ecosystem partners on test protocols and validation requirements

Technical Program Management

• Oversee test strategy development for optical modules with embedded or adjacently mounted optical components
• Drive creation of comprehensive test plans covering optical performance, electrical performance, thermal management, and reliability
• Establish acceptance criteria and performance benchmarks aligned with data center and enterprise requirements
• Manage test equipment specifications, procurement, and deployment across manufacturing sites

Validation & Reliability

• Champion accelerated life testing programs for integrated optical-electrical systems
• Develop diagnostic and characterization protocols for novel optical assembly approaches
• Lead root-cause analysis on field failures and manufacturing defects
• Ensure compliance with industry standards (IEEE, IEC, Telcordia) and customer specifications

Engineering Team Development

• Build and mentor a team of optical test engineers, technicians, and process specialists
• Foster innovation in test methodology and automation
• Develop talent pipeline and career advancement opportunities
• Promote continuous learning in optical testing technologies and practices

Manufacturing Support

• Collaborate with manufacturing operations on yield improvement and test efficiency
• Establish in-line test protocols and inline measurement strategies
• Support transition from development to production testing
• Drive test cost reduction through automation and optimization

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 15+ years in optical engineering, with 5+ years in test engineering leadership

• Technical Expertise:

• Deep knowledge of optical transceiver design and testing

• Experience with optical-electrical integration challenges

• Proficiency in optical characterization (loss, dispersion, eye diagrams, jitter)

• Fluency with high-speed electrical measurements and signal integrity

• Leadership: Demonstrated success managing technical teams and cross-functional programs

• Industry Knowledge: Understanding of data center interconnect architectures and requirements

• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with 112G+ or 200G+ optical systems
• Familiarity with thermal management in high-density optical modules
• Knowledge of automated test equipment (ATE) programming and optimization
• Background in manufacturing process capability analysis
• Understanding of substrate technologies (silicon photonics, planar lightwave circuits)
• Advanced degree in Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Strategic vision and execution
• Technical depth and credibility
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Process improvement and lean manufacturing principles
• Data-driven decision making
• Communication with technical and executive audiences
• Change management
• Budget and resource management

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.