Firmware Engineer Intern - Optical

Firmware Engineering Intern

Role Overview

As a Firmware Engineering Intern on the Optical Transceiver Module or Active Electrical Cable (AEC) Firmware team, you will contribute to embedded software that helps bring up, validate, and improve high-speed connectivity products. You will work across C and Python codebases, build practical debugging skills, and collaborate with firmware, hardware, and validation engineers to turn requirements into reliable product functionality.

This is an opportunity to apply your coursework and embedded firmware experience to real products supporting the next generation of rack-scale AI infrastructure. You will gain hands-on exposure to firmware development, lab testing, automation, and system-level problem solving while learning in a fast-moving environment where interns are encouraged to grow and make meaningful contributions.

Key Responsibilities

• Firmware Development
  • Implement and enhance embedded firmware in C for optical and active electrical cable products.
  • Develop Python scripts and tools for test automation, device configuration, log parsing, and data analysis.
  • Translate requirements into clear, maintainable code with guidance from experienced firmware engineers.
• Bring-Up, Debugging, and Validation
  • Support firmware bring-up on embedded platforms and assist with board- and system-level debugging.
  • Execute functional, regression, and interoperability tests; document results and track issues.
  • Use lab equipment and software tools to isolate failures, verify fixes, and improve product quality.
• Collaboration and Documentation
  • Partner with hardware, systems, and validation engineers to investigate issues and deliver integrated solutions.
  • Participate in code reviews and apply feedback to improve reliability, readability, and maintainability.
  • Contribute to design notes, test plans, debug reports, and other engineering documentation.

Basic Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Embedded firmware experience through coursework, research, personal projects, or a prior internship.
• Proficiency in C and Python.
• Understanding of embedded systems concepts, microcontrollers, memory, interrupts, and peripheral interfaces.
• Demonstrated ability to debug methodically, learn quickly, and communicate technical findings clearly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing firmware for an ARM-based microcontroller, such as STM32.
• Familiarity with embedded interfaces and peripherals such as UART, I2C, SPI, GPIO, and timers.
• Exposure to real-time operating system concepts or bare-metal firmware development.
• Experience using JTAG or SWD, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or similar hardware-debugging tools.
• Interest in high-speed connectivity, signal integrity, or physical-layer concepts.

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 ranges form $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.