Principal Physical Design Engineer, Methodology

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 [http://www.asteralabs.com/]. Role Overview Astera Labs is seeking a strategic and results-oriented Principal Sourcing Manager to lead Sourcing initiatives across our supply base. This is a unique opportunity to influence the sourcing strategy behind cutting-edge products and help scale a fast-growing company at the forefront of AI and cloud infrastructure. In this role, you will partner with cross-functional teams to develop and execute sourcing strategies that align with Astera Labs' technology roadmap and business objectives. You will work with our suppliers within one or more nodes of the silicon supply chain including Foundries, OSATs, Substrates, Test, and more to ensure Astera is positioned competitively and favorably to deliver our products to our customers. You will negotiate and deliver cost savings, draft and negotiate complex agreements that protect Astera Labs' interests, and ensure business continuity as the company scales rapidly to meet surging demand for AI connectivity solutions. Key Responsibilities * Category Strategy & Execution * * Develop and execute category sourcing strategies for one or more of the following: Foundry, OSAT, Substrates, Test * Analyze industry trends, supplier capabilities, and cost structures to identify opportunities for innovation, risk mitigation, and cost savings * Build and maintain should-cost models, total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses, and financial assessments for strategic deals * Supplier Management & Negotiation * Lead supplier selection, negotiation, and contract execution including NDAs, MSAs, SOWs, licensing agreements, and other service contracts * Drive supplier relationship management (SRM) programs to ensure performance, compliance, and continuous improvement * Monitor and assess supplier financial health, IP portfolio strength, and technology differentiation * Cross-Functional Partnership & Roadmap Alignment * Partner with R&D and engineering teams to align sourcing strategies with technology roadmaps and product development timelines * Manage cross-functional sourcing projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives and timely execution * Influence supplier technology decisions and roadmap alignment to support Astera Labs' strategic goals Basic Qualifications * Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related technical field * 7+ years of experience in technical sourcing, procurement, or supplier management in the semiconductor or cloud infrastructure industry * Strong understanding of technology trends in the Datacenter Infrastructure space, and ability to move fast to evaluate newer technologies and suppliers * Demonstrated ability to lead complex negotiations such as Capacity Reservation Agreements, SOWs, and manage supplier relationships across global teams Preferred Qualifications * Master's degree in Engineering, Business, or Supply Chain Management * Experience working directly with Foundries, OSATs, and Test houses * High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment * Strong analytical, financial modeling, and contract management skills * Excellent communication and stakeholder management across technical and business teams Base salary range is $160,000 to $200,000 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.

ABOUT US PhysicsX is a deep-tech company with roots in numerical physics and Formula One, dedicated to accelerating hardware innovation at the speed of software. We are building an AI-driven simulation software stack for engineering and manufacturing across advanced industries. By enabling high-fidelity, multi-physics simulation through AI inference across the entire engineering lifecycle, PhysicsX unlocks new levels of optimization and automation in design, manufacturing, and operations — empowering engineers to push the boundaries of possibility. Our customers include leading innovators in Aerospace & Defense, Materials, Energy, Semiconductors, and Automotive. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR You are a problem solver and builder, passionate about creating practical solutions that help customers make better engineering decisions. You can grasp and apply advanced engineering concepts across multiple industries, and you excel at working directly with internal and external stakeholders, often on-site, to develop high-fidelity simulation models that feed into AI tools that are both useful and used. You bring deep expertise in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and multiphase modelling within bioprocess and chemical engineering environments. You are highly proficient in at least one of Star-CCM+, OpenFOAM, or Fluent, and experienced modelling the complex flow behaviour that arises in industrial bioprocess systems. You are adept at automating these tools to create scalable optimisation workflows. Experience in parametric CAD modelling (NX or CATIA) and coding in Python (or the ability to pick up new programming languages quickly) is an advantage. With 5–7 years of industry experience (post-MEng, MSc, or PhD) in a commercial environment, you are ready to hit the ground running. You are confident setting up simulations independently, interpreting complex results with rigour, and making sound decisions grounded in solid engineering judgement. WHAT YOU'LL DO * Proficiency in CFD solvers across open-source OpenFOAM and commercial platforms as a plus (Star-CCM+, Fluent or equivalent), including custom solver and boundary condition development. * Develop multiphase flow models for gas-liquid, solid-liquid, VOF, Euler-Euler/Euler-Lagrange approaches) across a range of industrial and process engineering applications. * Model non-Newtonian and complex fluid rheology modelling, including high-viscosity, shear-thinning, or particle-laden flow regimes * Reactive and coupled-physics flow modelling — link CFD with reaction kinetics, heat transfer, or domain-specific process models (e.g. biokinetic, combustion, or electrochemical frameworks) * Own meshing generation and strategy for complex industrial geometries, including rotating machinery, internal flow passages, spargers, and free-surface interfaces * Build robust parametric CAD models (NX, CATIA, or equivalent) tightly coupled with simulation pipelines, enabling automated design optimisation and DoE studies * Multi-physics model development end-to-end: geometry clean-up, meshing, solver setup, post-processing, and experimental data integration for model validation * Scale-up/scale-down methodology — translate small-scale experimental data to full-scale CFD models and iterating model fidelity against physical measurements * HPC experience: job scheduling, MPI-based distributed computing, GPU acceleration, and performance tuning for large-mesh transient simulations on cloud (Flux) and on-premise resources * Surrogate modelling and ML-CFD coupling — build reduced-order or AI surrogate models from high-fidelity CFD data to support design space exploration and process optimisation * Data pipeline literacy — structuring and curate CFD output datasets for downstream AI/ML training, active learning, and Pareto optimisation workflows; applying data sampling techniques (LHS, quasi-random, adaptive) to efficiently cover design space * Experimental validation workflows — compare simulation predictions against physical test data, interpreting discrepancies, and systematically improving model fidelity * Customer-facing delivery — partner with clients to scope and address complex engineering challenges via CAE and AI solutions; communicating results clearly, recommending actionable next steps, and balancing accuracy with efficiency under commercial deadlines ENGINEERING AND WORKFLOW * 5–7 years post-graduate experience  * MEng, MSc, or PhD in mechanical, chemical, or process engineering * Python scripting and simulation automation * DoE, surrogate modelling, and design space exploration * Parametric CAD modelling (NX or CATIA advantageous) * Strong written and verbal communication with technical and non-technical audiences   WHAT WE OFFER Build what actually matters Help shape an AI-native engineering company at a formative stage, tackling problems that genuinely matter for industry and society. This is work with real-world impact - and something you can be proud to stand behind. Learn alongside exceptional people Work with a high-caliber, collaborative team of engineers, scientists, and operators who care deeply about doing great work, and about helping each other get better. We come from diverse backgrounds, but we share a commitment to operating at the highest level and addressing some of the most complex challenges out there. If you’re ambitious, thoughtful, and driven by impact, you’ll feel at home. Influence over hierarchy We operate with a flat structure: good ideas win - wherever they come from. Questioning assumptions and challenging the status quo isn’t just welcomed, it’s expected. Sustainable pace, long-term ambition Building meaningful technology is a marathon, not a sprint. We believe in balancing focused, ambitious work with a life beyond it. Our hybrid model blends time together in our Shoreditch office with work-from-home days, giving you the flexibility to work sustainably while staying connected in person.   We value diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. We strongly encourage individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in tech to apply. To help make a change, we sponsor bright women from disadvantaged backgrounds through their university degrees in science and mathematics.    We collect diversity and inclusion data solely for the purpose of monitoring the effectiveness of our equal opportunities policies and ensuring compliance with UK employment and equality legislation. This information is confidential, used only in aggregate form, and will not influence the outcome of your application.