Signal Integrity Engineer Intern

About the role

Location: San Jose, California, United States

About the role

Astera Labs is seeking a Signal Integrity Engineer Intern to join the Signal and Power Integrity (SI/PI) team. In this role, you will gain hands-on experience analyzing high-speed interconnects and supporting PCB- and system-level designs through simulation, measurement, and cross-functional engineering collaboration.

You will work on a meaningful project with guidance from experienced engineers while building practical skills in signal-integrity analysis, lab validation, technical communication, and engineering judgment.

What you will do

• Support pre-layout, layout, and post-layout signal-integrity analysis for high-speed PCB and system designs.
• Build or update simulation models and analyze critical interconnect behavior, including impedance, insertion loss, return loss, reflections, and crosstalk.
• Assist with S-parameter extraction, simulation, measurement, and interpretation for high-speed channels and differential signals.
• Support lab validation using equipment such as time-domain reflectometers, vector network analyzers, high-speed oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and probing fixtures, with appropriate mentorship.
• Help plan and execute PCB/PCBA validation activities, prioritize critical items, and document results.
• Organize raw measurement data, screenshots, S-parameter files, and analysis results in project documentation.
• Collaborate with electrical, layout, validation, NPI, and other engineering partners to investigate issues and communicate findings.
• Contribute to technical reports, design reviews, and a final project presentation that explains the work, results, and impact.

What you bring

• Enrollment in a bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D. program in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field.
• Academic, research, or project experience with one or more of the following: high-speed digital design, signal integrity, transmission lines, electromagnetics, PCB design, differential signaling, or S-parameters.
• A foundational understanding of frequency-domain or time-domain analysis and how interconnect design affects signal quality.
• Ability to learn simulation and measurement workflows, work carefully with technical data, and communicate conclusions clearly.
• Strong ownership, curiosity, practical judgment, and willingness to collaborate across functions.

Preferred qualifications

• Familiarity with PCB or system-level SI/PI simulation, channel analysis, or lab measurement.
• Exposure to tools or workflows used for high-speed analysis, such as ADS, HFSS, CST, Keysight, Cadence, or equivalent platforms.
• Experience with Python, MATLAB, or another scripting language for data processing and engineering analysis.
• Familiarity with calibration, de-embedding, Touchstone/S-parameter files, eye diagrams, or BER analysis.

Pay and benefits

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 ranges 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.