Jobs / United States / Astera Labs INC
Tech Lead Optical Test 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.
Or apply yourself on the official page →
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 . 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). • Famili