Jobs / United States / Astera Labs INC
Principal Optical Assembly Engineer
Astera Labs INC · 🇺🇸 San Jose, California, United States
Sponsorship verdict
Sponsorship possible
One solid signal, not two — worth applying, and worth asking about sponsorship early.
- Employer is on a government sponsor recordThe US Department of Labor certified 63 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 10 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
- The posting doesn’t mention sponsorshipSilence isn’t a refusal — ask the recruiter before investing much time.
- No salary bar for this routeH-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area. Cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level. Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b, rules effective 2026-02-27.
- What Astera Labs INC paid sponsored hires in similar roles26 certified filings for “Tech Lead Firmware Engineer” (Electronics Engineers, Except Computer) in CA: $157k–$216k, median $165k. Most were filed at wage level II (42%) — 2 lottery entries, ≈31% projected selection odds for cap-subject employers. Source: US Department of Labor LCA disclosure data (Oct 2025 – Jun 2026).
- Confirmed live todayWhen a source last listed this job as open.
US H-1B: cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level — Level I gets 1 entry, Level IV gets 4 (DHS projected selection odds ≈15% at Level I to ≈61% at Level IV). Universities and non-profit research employers are cap-exempt. The $100,000 fee for new petitions from abroad is currently blocked by a court order (appeal pending).
A verdict summarises public evidence; it is not legal advice and never a guarantee — the employer and the immigration authority decide. Sign in to factor in where you can already work.
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Sponsor Radar — Astera Labs INC
The US Department of Labor certified 63 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 10 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
Past sponsorship or register membership never guarantees sponsorship for this vacancy or for you. Full Sponsor Radar for Astera Labs INC →
About the role
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 . About the Role Astera Labs is seeking a Principal Optical Assembly Engineer to drive development of optical assembly processes that support next-generation photonics products for scale up and scale out AI infrastructure applications . This is a high-impact individual contributor role with technical leadership responsibilities, focused on developing robust assembly processes, expanding lab capability, and improving the yield, quality, and reliability of optical assemblies for NPO and CPO products. Responsibilities • Drive development and optimization of optical assembly processes, including active and passive fiber alignment, fiber attach , and epoxy cure. • Define and document process flows, work instructions, and quality control plans for optical assembly. • Support the build-out and scaling of the optical assembly laboratory, including equipment layout, tool qualification, and safety protocols. • Partner with equipment suppliers on the development and qualification of high volume capable active alignment systems, dispensing tools, and curing tools. • Qualify optical adhesives and encapsulants with material vendors for optical performance, thermal and mechanical requirements, process scalability, and reliability. • Develop yield improvement plans and implement statistical process control (SPC) methods for optical assembly. Basic Qualifications • B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Optical Engineering, or a related field. • 8 + years of experience in optical assembly, photonics packaging, or a related process development role. • Hands-on experience developing precision assembly processes for photonic or optoelectronic products. • Experience leading optical assembly platforms from concept to high volume production . • Experience with alignment-intensive assembly methods and process controls used in fiber-coupled or optical device manufacturing. • Strong understanding of process development, qualification, troubleshooting, and transfer to manufacturing. • Ability to create clear process documentation and translate development work into repeatable production practices. • Experience collaborating with external equipment and materials partners to mature assembly solutions. • Strong foundation in yield analysis, reliability characterization, and process capability methodologies such as Cpk and SPC. Preferred Qualifications • Hands-on experience with active alignment systems for photonic or optical device assembly. • Hands-on experience with optical adhesives, encapsulants, and related material qualification . • Familiarity with optical performance verification, failure analysis, and process optimization. • Experience building high volume assembly tools , equipment qualification, and safe operating practices for optical assembly environments. 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