Distinguished Engineer – Server Firmware, System Architecture

Astera Labs

Leading the architecture for AI platforms with a focus on high-speed connectivity solutions and firmware intelligence. Driving innovation in advanced data centers and AI infrastructure at Astera Labs.

Posted 5/20/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLeadWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Node.js

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Define the end-to-end architecture for AI platforms, from node-level design to rack-scale composable systems
Drive adoption of PCIe-based fabrics for disaggregated compute, memory, and accelerator scalability
Architect solutions for GPU/accelerator-dense systems optimized for AI training and inference workloads
Lead integration of connectivity solutions — retimers, switches, and fabric controllers — aligned with Astera Labs' product ecosystem
Drive innovation in server BIOS/UEFI architecture, OpenBMC-based platform management, Redfish APIs for scalable infrastructure control, and lifecycle provisioning frameworks
Lead system bring-up and ensure seamless firmware-hardware-software integration across complex AI platforms
Define the technical vision and multi-year firmware roadmap for AI infrastructure platforms
Own end-to-end AI platform performance strategy including PCIe topology optimization, bandwidth scaling, latency reduction, and CPU performance tuning for AI orchestration workloads
Drive memory performance optimization across DDR, NUMA, and emerging memory expansion technologies
Lead performance tuning for multi-accelerator systems (GPU/ASIC/FPGA), high-throughput data pipelines, and distributed AI workloads
Collaborate with silicon vendors (CPU, GPU, AI accelerators), connectivity ecosystem partners, OEMs, ODMs, and hyperscalers
Influence industry standards across OpenBMC, Redfish, OCP, and related consortia
Mentor senior engineers and grow deep technical bench strength across the organization
Represent Astera Labs as a recognized thought leader in AI infrastructure and platform innovation.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
15+ years of experience in system architecture, server firmware, or platform engineering
Deep expertise in server BIOS/UEFI, OpenBMC and BMC firmware stacks, and Redfish or datacenter management frameworks
Strong knowledge of PCIe architecture and performance optimization (Gen4/5/6)
Experience with CPU, memory, and system-level performance tuning for high-performance computing or AI platforms
Strong programming experience in C/C++ and low-level system software
Proven track record of leading cross-functional, large-scale architecture initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
Experience with rack-scale composable infrastructure and disaggregated architectures
Background in AI training clusters, accelerator-based systems, or hyperscale datacenter design
Expertise in high-speed interconnect solutions such as retimers, switches, and fabric ICs
Experience with platform lifecycle management systems and fleet-level automation
Contributions to industry standards bodies or open-source firmware ecosystems
Demonstrated ability to define multi-year technical roadmaps and influence executive strategy.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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.

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

system architectureserver firmwareplatform engineeringserver BIOSUEFIOpenBMCRedfishPCIe architectureC/C++ programmingperformance tuning

Soft Skills

leadershipmentoringcollaborationinfluenceinnovationcommunicationstrategic planningcross-functional teamworkthought leadershipproblem-solving

Certifications

Bachelor's degree in Computer ScienceBachelor's degree in Electrical EngineeringBachelor's degree in Computer EngineeringMaster's degree in Computer ScienceMaster's degree in Electrical EngineeringPhD in Computer SciencePhD in Electrical Engineering