Senior Principal Technical Category Sourcing Manager - Silicon Development Technologies

Astera Labs • San Jose, CA

82d

About The Position

Astera Labs is seeking a strategic and results-oriented Senior Principal Technical Category Sourcing Manager to lead sourcing initiatives across the domain of Silicon Development Technologies-including Intellectual Property (IP), Electronic Design Automation (EDA), Hardware Emulation, Cloud Services, and other emerging tools that enable advanced semiconductor design. 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'll play a key role in identifying and securing the tools, platforms, and partnerships that power our silicon innovation, while driving cost optimization, supplier performance, and long-term value. 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• Proven experience negotiating IP licensing, EDA tool contracts, cloud service agreements, and hardware emulation platforms.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor design flows, cloud architectures, and emulation technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex negotiations and manage supplier relationships across global teams.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Engineering, Business, or Supply Chain Management.
• Experience with EDA vendors (e.g., Synopsys, Cadence, Siemens) and cloud providers (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Familiarity with IP licensing models, emulation hardware (e.g., FPGA-based platforms), and cloud cost optimization strategies.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category sourcing strategies for IP licensing, EDA tools, emulation platforms, cloud infrastructure, and emerging tech solutions.
• Lead supplier selection, negotiation, and contract execution including NDAs, MSAs, SOWs, licensing agreements, and cloud service contracts.
• Partner with R&D and engineering teams to align sourcing strategies with technology roadmaps and product development timelines.
• Analyze industry trends, supplier capabilities, and cost structures to identify opportunities for innovation, risk mitigation, and cost savings.
• Drive supplier relationship management (SRM) programs to ensure performance, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Manage cross-functional sourcing projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives and timely execution.
• Build and maintain should-cost models, total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses, and financial assessments for strategic deals.
• Monitor and assess supplier financial health, IP portfolio strength, and technology differentiation.
• Influence supplier technology decisions and roadmap alignment to support Astera Labs' strategic goals.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, equity, and benefits package.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees