Principal System/Rack Mechanical Engineer

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. Discover more at www.asteralabs.com.

Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer

Location: Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina Department: Hardware Engineering / System Architecture Employment Type: Full-Time

We are seeking a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead mechanical architecture and system integration across next-generation AI platforms, optical networking systems, and rack-scale infrastructure solutions.

This is a highly visible leadership role responsible for developing mechanical architecture across:

• PCIe Scale-Up AI Infrastructure

• UALink Rack-Scale Fabrics

• Ethernet Scale-Out Systems

• ESUN Network Architectures

• GPU Compute Platforms

• Open Rack Systems

• Fiber Connectivity Infrastructure

• NPO (Near Package Optics)

• CPO (Co-Packaged Optics)

• Air-Cooled and Liquid-Cooled AI Platforms

You will work closely with Thermal, Power, Electrical, Silicon, Software, and System Architecture teams, as well as ODM partners including Accton, Hyve, Wistron, Quanta, and Gigabyte.

Lead Mechanical Architecture for AI Platforms

• Define mechanical architecture from device-level products through complete rack-scale AI systems.

• Develop scalable mechanical designs supporting future generations of AI infrastructure.

• Establish system-level design requirements balancing:

• Performance

• Reliability

• Manufacturability

• Serviceability

• Cost

• Sustainability

Design Rack-Scale AI Infrastructure

• GPU Compute Platforms

• PCIe Scale-Up Switch Platforms

• UALink Switch Platforms

• Optical Connectivity Systems

• Rack Controllers

• Rack Enclosures

• Cable Management Systems

• Open Rack Platforms

Drive solutions that support high-density AI computing deployments.

Develop Open Rack and Rack-Level Mechanical Solutions

• Define rack layouts and mechanical interfaces.

• Develop scalable rack architecture standards.

• Drive mechanical integration of:

• Compute systems

• Switch platforms

• Power shelves

• Cooling infrastructure

• Optical connectivity

• Management systems

• Support future multi-rack AI factory deployments.

Enable Fiber Connectivity and Optical Systems

• Fiber Infrastructure

• Optical Engines

• Silicon Photonics

• NPO