October 25, 2003 Colin Macnab 16268 Camellia Terrace Los Gatos, CA 95032 Dear Colin:

EXHIBIT 10.15

October 25, 2003

Xxxxx Xxxxxx

00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx

Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000

Dear Colin:

On behalf of Atheros Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), I am pleased to extend you an offer to join the Company. This letter sets forth the basic terms and conditions of your employment with the Company and supersedes any other written or verbal offer. We would like you to begin your employment with the Company on or before October 29, 2003. This offer expires on October 28, 2003. By signing this letter, you will be agreeing to these terms. It is important that you understand clearly both what your benefits are and what is expected of you by the Company.

1. Salary. You will be paid an annual base salary of $240,000, less regular payroll deductions, which covers all hours worked. Generally, your salary will be reviewed annually but the Company reserves the right to change your compensation from time to time on reasonable notice.

2. Bonus: You will be eligible to participate in the Executive Incentive Plan. Your target annual bonus will be 25% of annual base salary, prorated for the remainder of 2003.

3 Stock Option. You will receive an option to purchase 500,000 shares of the common stock of the Company. The option will vest as to 12/48ths of the shares on the first anniversary of your hire date and 1/48^th of the shares each full month thereafter.

4 Duties: Your job title will be Vice President Marketing and Business Development. Your duties generally will include developing the product vision and marketing strategy for Atheros products. You may be assigned other duties as needed and your duties may change from time to time on reasonable notice, based on the needs of the Company and your skills, as determined by the Company.

As an exempt employee, you are required to exercise your specialized expertise, independent judgment and discretion to provide high-quality services. You are required to follow office policies and procedures adopted from time to time by the Company and to take such general direction as you may be given from time to time by your superiors. The Company reserves the right to change these policies and procedures at any time. (Also see Adjustments and Changes in Employment Status). You are required to devote your full energies, efforts and abilities to your employment, unless the Company expressly agrees otherwise provided, however, that you may serve in any capacity with any civic, educational or charitable organization, or as a member of corporate Boards of Directors or committees thereof, so long as such services does not conflict with your duties to the Company. You are not permitted to engage in any business activity that competes with the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is informed that you are acting as an advisor to the entities listed on Exhibit C and the Company hereby consents to your acting in this capacity during the term of your employment with the Company.

1

5 Hours of Work. As an exempt employee, you are expected to work the number of hours required to get the job done. However, you are generally expected to be present during normal working hours of the Company. Normal working hours will be established by the Company and may be changed as needed to meet the needs of the business.

6. Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control (as defined below) where your employment is terminated without Cause (as defined below) or if you resign for Good Reason within 12 months following the Change of Control, and provided that you sign and do not revoke within the time period specified by the Company a standard release of claims in a form mutually acceptable to the Company (or its successor) and you, then your stock options and any restricted stock shall have its vesting accelerated as to an additional amount equal to the vesting you would have received had your employment continued for an additional year after your employment is terminated. The terms of any stock option shall include the right to exercise such stock options for a period of up to one year following the termination of your employment should said termination occur prior to the company completing an IPO. You acknowledge that in the event you were to exercise such options after three months following the termination of your employment, such options would not be eligible for ISO status. .

“Change of Control” shall mean: (a) merger, acquisition or similar transaction or series of related transactions in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated, (b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (c) a reorganization or merger of the Company with or into any other Company which will result in the Company’s stockholders immediately prior to such transaction not holding, as a result of such transaction, at least 50% of the voting power of the surviving or continuing entity or the entity controlling the surviving or continuing entity;.

“Cause” means (a) intentional and material dishonesty in the performance of your duties for the Company; (b) conduct (including conviction of or plea of nolo contendere to a felony) which has a direct and material adverse effect on the Company or its reputation; (c) material failure to perform your reasonable duties or comply with your obligations under this Agreement or the Company’s Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement after receipt of written notice specifying the failure, if you do not remedy that failure within 10 business days of receipt of written notice from the Company, which notice will state that failure to remedy such conduct may result in termination for Cause or (d) an incurable material breach of the Company’s Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement, including, without limitation, theft or other misappropriation of the Company’s proprietary information.” Nothing in this section shall alter the at-will nature of employment or provide an obligation express or implied for the payment of severance except as expressly provided herein.

“Good Reason” means, without your express written consent, (i) a material reduction of your duties, position or responsibilities, provided, however that any reduction in position occurring in connection with a “Change of Control” of the Company shall not constitute “Good Reason”; (ii) a reduction by the Company in your annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction other than a reduction that is applicable to all executives of the Company (iii) your relocation to a facility or a location more than 50 miles from your then present location . (iv) any material breach of this agreement by the Company.

7. Severance: If the Company terminates your employment other than for “Cause” or you resign for “Good Reason” as defined above, and provided that you sign and do not revoke within the time period specified by the Company a standard release of claims in a form mutually acceptable to the Company and you, then you will be paid a lump-sum severance at such time equal to six months of your then annual base salary. The terms of any stock option shall include the right to exercise such stock options for a period of up to one year following the termination of your employment should said termination occur prior to the Company completing an IPO. You acknowledge that in the event

2

you were to exercise such options after three months following the termination of your employment, such options would not be eligible for ISO status. In addition, if you properly elect to continue the Company’s group health plan coverage under COBRA, the Company will continue your health coverage for you and your enrolled dependents at no cost to you for six months following the effective date of termination. You will be able to continue your health benefits beyond six months at your own expense as allowed under the Company’s health plans.

8. Adjustments and Changes in Employment Status. You understand that the Company reserves the right to make personnel decisions regarding your employment, including but not limited to decisions regarding any promotion, salary adjustment, transfer or disciplinary action, up to and including termination, consistent with the needs of the business.

9. Proprietary Information Agreement. You will be required to sign and abide by the terms of the enclosed proprietary information agreement, which is incorporated into this agreement by reference as Exhibit A.

10. Immigration Documentation. Please be advised that your employment is contingent on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company. You must comply with the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s employment verification requirements.

11. Representation and Warranty of Employee. You represent and warrant to the Company that the performance of your duties will not violate any agreements with or trade secrets of any other person or entity.

12. Employee Benefits. You will be eligible for paid vacation, sick leave and holidays. You will be provided with health insurance benefits and dental insurance benefits, as provided in our benefit plans. These benefits may change from time to time. You will be covered by workers’ compensation insurance and State Disability Insurance, as required by state law.

13. Term of Employment. Your employment with the Company is “at-will.” In other words, either you or the Company can terminate your employment at any time for any reason, with or without cause and with or without notice.

14. Dispute Resolution Procedure. I agree that prior to my employment with the Company, I must sign and agree to the Arbitration Agreement attached as Exhibit B to this Agreement.

15. Integrated Agreement. Please note that this Agreement, along with the attached Employee’s Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement (Exhibit A) and the Arbitration Agreement (Exhibit B), supersedes any prior agreements, representations or promises of any kind, whether written, oral, express or implied between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matters herein. It constitutes the full, complete and exclusive agreement between you and the Company with respect to the subject matters herein. This agreement cannot be changed unless in writing, signed by you and the Vice President of Administration and Controller.

16. Severability. If any term of this Agreement is held to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected; and, the parties shall use their best efforts to find an alternative way to achieve the same result.

3

We look forward to your joining our organization. In order to confirm your agreement with and acceptance of these terms, please sign one copy of this letter and return it to me. The other copy is for your records. If there is any matter in this letter which you wish to discuss further, please do not hesitate to speak to me.

						Very truly yours,
						ATHEROS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
						By:		/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
						Title:		Director Human Resources
I agree to the terms of employment set forth in this Agreement.
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx						10th October 2003
Xxxxx Xxxxxx						Date

4

EXHIBIT A

EMPLOYEE’S PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT

5

EXHIBIT C

Amalfi Semiconductor		000 Xxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxx Xxxxx, XX, 00000-0000
Kiwi Networks		0000 Xxxx Xxx., Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Alta Network		Xxx Xxxxx, XX

0