Firmware Engineering Manager, Astera Labs

• This role requires deep experience in BootROM architecture, security subsystem integration (DICE, attestation, cryptography), and SystemC/TLM simulation modeling to accurately emulate SoC behavior during bring-up and pre-silicon validation
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science, with a focus on embedded systems or digital design
• 10–15 years developing or supporting firmware for complex SoC/silicon products in compute, networking, or storage applications, with hands-on experience in microcontroller subsystems (e.g., ARM or equivalent)
• Expertise in SoC microcontroller architectures, including memory, interrupts, and peripherals
• Experience with cosim and simulation environments
• Experience with SystemC/TLM modeling
• In-depth understanding of DICE requirements

Desirable

• As the Firmware Engineering Manager, you will lead development and simulation efforts for the BootROM firmware and its supporting SoC models, enabling early architectural validation and robust hardware/firmware co-design
• Drive the architecture and design strategy for the HW/SW security subsystem, ensuring robust integration of DICE and Attestation functionality in the BootROM
• Plan and implement BootROMfeatures: work closely with Security Council and Product Marketing to prioritize the features, create development and validation plan, execute the plan, and communicate status
• Develop simulation models: create and validate SystemC/TLM models for SoC components, ensuring accurate representation of hardware behavior for BootROM development and testing
• Co-develop hardware/firmware interfaces: work closely with RTL designers to define SoC interfaces to crypto engines and debug/management interfaces, ensuring robust integration
• Co-simulate RTL and firmware: conduct co-simulation to identify bugs and propose enhancements, focusing on PCIe Link Training and Status State Machine (LTSSM) and Ethernet link equalization at 100G–800G, collaborating with design/verification teams to implement fixes
• Demonstrate entrepreneurial mindset, customer-oriented approach, and professional communication skills for preparing and leading meetings with internal teams and CSPs