Active Electric Cable / Smart Cable Module Lead, AVP

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.

AVP, AEC/SCM Lead

We are seeking a highly experienced leader to drive high-speed product development and technology strategy across a portfolio of advanced interconnect solutions. This role is ideal for someone who combines deep technical expertise with strong cross-functional leadership, deep familiarity with cable manufacturing, and a track record of bringing complex products from concept through qualification and launch.

Role Overview

The AEC/SCM Lead will lead development across a range of high-speed electrical connectivity products, with primary focus on:

• Active electrical cables (AEC)
• Active copper cables (ACC)
• Smart cable modules (SCM)
• Linear re-driver cables

This leader will own both technology roadmapping and execution, managing multidisciplinary teams spanning hardware, firmware, testing, and mechanical engineering.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional engineering teams across Mechanical Engineering, Testing Engineering, Hardware Engineering, and Firmware Engineering.
• Drive R&D and new product development for active and passive high-speed electrical interconnect technologies.
• Define and manage the technology roadmap and strategic planning aligned with customer and market needs.
• Oversee products through the full lifecycle, from concept, design, and qualification to launch.
• Collaborate with Signal Integrity, NPI, QA, validation, and manufacturing teams to ensure product performance, quality, and reliability.
• Build and lead a strong technical team with competencies spanning:
• Schematic and layout design
• High-speed electrical interconnect design
• Firmware and software development
• High-speed standards compliance
• FMEA, DFM, DFA
• Program management
• Product qualification
• Make both technical and business decisions to align product development with company strategy, customer requirements, and manufacturing realities.

Required Qualifications

• Proven experience leading engineering development for high-speed electrical interconnect products, including significant experience with cable manufacturing.
• Strong background in R&D, product development, and technology strategy.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of product quality, reliability, manufacturability, and validation processes.
• Ability to make both technical and business decisions.
• Experience with overseas (Asia) contract manufacturers

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with optical products and optical interconnect technologies is a plus.
• Mandarin language proficiency.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a technical leader who can balance innovation, execution, and team development. They should be comfortable driving both strategic roadmaps and day-to-day engineering decisions while partnering closely with product, operations, manufacturing, and customer-facing teams.

What Success Looks Like

• A clear and differentiated technology roadmap
• Efficient execution of new product development programs
• Strong collaboration across engineering, validation, NPI, QA, and manufacturing
• Successful launch of reliable, high-performance products aligned with market needs

Pay and benefits

Base salary range is $280,000 to $310,000 depending on experience, level, and business need. This role may be eligible for discretionary bonus, incentives and benefits.

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.