Firmware Engineer Intern (Leo)

Location: San Jose, California
Employment type: Full-time internship
Schedule: 40 hours per week

About the role

As a Firmware Engineer Intern on the Leo Firmware team, you will contribute to embedded software that helps bring up, validate, and improve high-speed connectivity products supporting the next generation of rack-scale AI infrastructure. You will work across C and Python codebases, build practical debugging skills, and collaborate with firmware, hardware, systems, and validation engineers to turn requirements into reliable product functionality.

This role offers hands-on exposure to firmware development, lab testing, automation, and system-level problem solving. You will work in a fast-moving engineering environment where interns are encouraged to learn quickly, take ownership, and make meaningful contributions to real products.

What you’ll do

• Implement and enhance embedded firmware in C for high-speed connectivity 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Take ownership of an assigned project and work toward a proof of concept, usable framework, or production-ready contribution.

• Communicate progress, technical findings, and project outcomes clearly, including through an end-of-program presentation.

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, including microcontrollers, memory, interrupts, and peripheral interfaces.

• Demonstrated ability to debug methodically, learn quickly, collaborate effectively, and communicate technical findings clearly.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience developing firmware for an ARM-based microcontroller, such as STM32.

• Familiarity with UART, I2C, SPI, GPIO, timers, or similar embedded interfaces and peripherals.

• 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.

• Familiarity with Linux-based firmware development, build toolchains, or cross-compilation workflows.

• 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.