Lab Operations

Etched • San Jose, CA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Etched is building the world’s first AI inference system purpose-built for transformers - delivering over 10x higher performance and dramatically lower cost and latency than a B200. With Etched ASICs, you can build products that would be impossible with GPUs, like real-time video generation models and extremely deep & parallel chain-of-thought reasoning agents. Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history.

We're looking for a motivated, detail-oriented lab operations team member to support Etched's hardware bring-up and validation efforts. This is a full-time, on-site role ideal for new grads or early-career candidates who want to grow into hardware operations at a fast-moving AI startup. No prior hardware lab experience is required — what matters is a strong work ethic, sharp attention to detail, and a willingness to learn quickly. In this role, you'll own the execution of our hardware screening and validation test suites, keep boards moving through the testing pipeline 24/7, and partner closely with our firmware and software engineers to triage failures, validate fixes, and improve test coverage over time. You'll be a key part of our lab operations team and play a direct role in getting Etched's chips from silicon to production

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, physics, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 0–3 years of professional experience. New grads are encouraged to apply.
• Strong data collection and documentation habits. Accurate, traceable records are second nature to you and you don't cut corners on logging.
• A willingness to learn new technical domains quickly. You'll ramp up on ASIC screening workflows, test infrastructure, and failure analysis — we'll teach you, but you need to pick things up fast.
• Ability to monitor live test runs, catch irregularities early, and escalate or troubleshoot quickly to minimize downtime.
• Clear, concise written communication. You can summarize what you ran, what passed, what failed, and what you need next in a few lines of Slack.
• A strong work ethic and reliability. Lab operations requires coverage across shifts, and the team depends on you showing up and following through.
• Comfort working with engineers across firmware, software, and hardware to drive failures to root cause.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in a hardware lab, fab, or test environment.
• Familiarity with Linux, git, and running builds from a specific commit.
• Exposure to PCIe, HBM, or accelerator bring-up.

Responsibilities

• Execute hardware screening and validation procedures end-to-end: physically install boards on test stations, kick off test runs, monitor progress, and record outcomes against our internal database.
• Triage failing boards by reading test logs, identifying which test case failed and distinguishing real silicon failures from infrastructure issues like cooling, cabling, or known firmware regressions.
• Partner with firmware and software engineers to debug failures and identify gaps in the test suite so testing continues to get tighter and faster.
• Help improve and maintain lab infrastructure — test stations, cabling, cooling systems, and tooling — to keep the testing pipeline running smoothly.
• Maintain accurate, traceable records of every run: test run data links, board IDs, test case results, station assignments, and any rework or routing decisions for downstream teams.
• Communicate test status and blockers clearly in Slack so platform and software teams have real-time visibility.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage
• $500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits
• Housing subsidy of $2k per month for those living within walking distance of the office
• Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row)
• Various wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more
• Daily lunch and dinner in our office

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level