# Firmware Engineer Intern at Astera Labs

- Company: [Astera Labs](https://asteralabs.com)
- Location: San Jose, CA
- Type: Internship · Internship
- Posted: 2026-10-06
- Apply: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/asteraearlycareer2027/jobs/4731585005
- Page: https://newgrad.ai/jobs/firmware-engineer-intern-dd774f3a

## Summary by newgrad.ai

What you'll do:

- Write and debug embedded C/C++ firmware for Scorpio 1 switch ASIC
- Support link training, SERDES configuration, and PCIe protocol debugging
- Contribute to calibration and diagnostics routines during silicon bring-up
- Write Python scripts to automate tests and analyze hardware logs
- Triage failures and help drive fixes using lab tools like JTAG

What they're looking for:

- Currently pursuing Bachelor's or Master's in CS, EE, or related field
- Proficiency in C or C++ for firmware development
- Python scripting skills and experience with git and code reviews
- Experience developing firmware for on-chip microcontrollers
- Ability to debug firmware/hardware issues using lab tools

Pay and perks:

- Hourly rate $35–$55 depending on education level
- $500-per-week housing/relocation stipend
- Early Career programming with technical and professional development

## Posting

### Firmware Engineer Intern (SCO1)

Astera Labs • San Jose, CA (On-site) • Internship

### About Astera Labs

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. Discover more at www.asteralabs.com.

### Role Overview

Join the Firmware Engineering team behind Scorpio 1, Astera Labs' first-generation scale-up fabric switch that sits at the heart of AI data center racks. As a Firmware Engineer Intern (SCO1), you'll work alongside the Compute Connectivity Engineering team to build and debug the embedded firmware that brings this silicon to life — from register-level device configuration through customer-facing diagnostics. This is hands-on work: the firmware you touch controls real link training, calibration, and PCIe behavior on hardware that ships to hyperscale customers.

Astera Labs interns don't just observe — they contribute to real projects that ship, working side-by-side with senior firmware engineers and getting exposure to the full path from bring-up to production support.

### Key Responsibilities

- Write and debug embedded C/C++ firmware for the Scorpio 1 switch ASIC, including register configuration, state machines, and control-loop logic

- Support link training, SERDES configuration, and PCIe protocol-level debug alongside senior firmware engineers

- Contribute to calibration and diagnostics routines used during silicon bring-up and system validation

- Write Python scripts to automate test flows, parse hardware/debug logs, and analyze data from the lab

- Work with the system validation team to triage failures, reproduce issues, and help drive fixes into the firmware codebase

- Use lab tools (JTAG, trace logs, serial/debug consoles) to isolate and resolve firmware/hardware issues on real boards

- Keep work tracked in Jira, participate in code reviews, and communicate findings clearly to the team

### Basic Qualifications

- Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field

- Proficiency in C (preferred) or C++, including development of firmware

- Proficient in Python for scripting

- Experience with developer workflows, source control (preferably git), code reviews, and CI

- Experience developing firmware that executes on on-chip microcontrollers

- Experience debugging firmware/hardware issues using JTAG, trace logs, or other lab tools

- Professional attitude with the ability to formulate theories and well-thought-out questions to help debug and develop complex systems

### Preferred Qualifications

- Completed one or more courses in Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS), or hands-on RTOS use during a prior internship/co-op or project

- Knowledge of testing tools such as PyTest or GoogleTest

- Familiarity with software build environments, CI/CD, and gcc/make

- Experience with lab hardware/firmware debug (oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, logic analyzers)

- Experience developing firmware for PCIe, CXL, or Ethernet

- Prior internship or co-op experience in a semiconductor or networking hardware company

### Internship Experience and Compensation

This is a paid, hourly U.S. internship. The applicable hourly rate is determined as part of the offer process and specified in the offer letter, depending on education level, ranging from $35/hour to $55/hour. U.S. interns currently receive a $500-per-week housing/relocation stipend for the duration of the internship. Interns participate in Early Career programming, including technical and professional-development sessions, community events, and an end-of-program project presentation.

### Equal opportunity

Astera Labs is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage anyone with relevant experience to apply.

From Astera Labs's public posting, laid out for reading by newgrad.ai with the wording unchanged. Check the original before you apply.

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