As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena is committed to a people-first approach. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a flexible work environment that empowers individual growth, well-being, and belonging. We’re a technology company that leads with our humanity—driving our business priorities alongside meaningful social, community, and societal impact.
The Opportunity:
Optical Networks Intern – Powering AI at Scale
The Autonomous Photonics Networks team designs and develops state-of-the-art optical network technologies and automation tools that deliver massive bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and highly reliable connectivity — essential for powering large-scale AI training and inference. Our mission is to ensure that cloud and data center networks can seamlessly transport enormous volumes of data between compute clusters, enabling AI innovation at scale.
You will:
· Perform laboratory measurements and characterization of optical devices (e.g., optical filters, optical amplifiers, multiplexers, splitters) to support network design and deployment.
· Automate lab workflows, data acquisition, and analysis using Python or Matlab.
· Collaborate with senior engineers on experiments that ensure optical systems meet the performance requirements for AI workloads in data center and inter-data center environments.
This role offers hands-on exposure to the photonic and packet networking systems at the heart of the infrastructure used to train and deploy AI — bridging advanced optical engineering with high-performance computing needs.
The Must Haves:
We are looking for a motivated individual with a strong interest in optical networking and hands-on lab work.
Preferred skills include:
· Proficiency in Python or Matlab for automation, data processing, and instrument control.
· Experience performing optical measurements such as insertion loss, gain, noise figure, return loss, spectral analysis, and channel isolation testing.
· Understanding of optical components and their roles in DWDM and data center interconnect systems.
· Basic knowledge of optical fiber connectors, connector cleaning/handling practices, and connector inspection.
· Familiarity with optical test equipment such as optical spectrum analyzers (OSA), optical power meters, tunable lasers, and BER testers.
· Strong mathematical or statistical skills applicable to signal analysis and network performance evaluations.
· Clear written and verbal communication skills for documenting procedures, test results, and collaborating across engineering teams.
The hourly pay range for this position is $25.00-34.00
Pay ranges at Ciena are designed to accommodate variations in knowledge, skills, experience, market conditions, and locations, reflecting our diverse products, industries, and lines of business. Please note that the pay range information provided in this posting pertains specifically to the primary location, which is the top location listed in case multiple locations are available.
In addition to competitive compensation, Ciena offers students access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), company-paid holidays, paid sick leave, and vacation pay as required by applicable laws.
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At Ciena, we are committed to building and fostering an environment in which our employees feel respected, valued, and heard. Ciena values the diversity of its workforce and respects its employees as individuals. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination.
Ciena is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
If contacted in relation to a job opportunity, please advise Ciena of any accommodation measures you may require.
Top Skills
What We Do
Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) is a global leader in networking systems, services, and software. We build the world’s most adaptive networks to enable our customers to deliver richer, more connected experiences for all users. At our core, Ciena is a company rooted in people. We prioritize deep, collaborative relationships within our teams and alongside our customers, partners, and communities around the world.
For three-plus decades, we’ve brought our humanity to our relentless pursuit of innovation. We continue to lead the evolution of networking with a strong track record of industry firsts. As end-user expectations skyrocket, our customers and their networks must transform. Ciena powers this transformation by driving next-generation solutions built for maximum openness and agility—today and into the future.
Corporate/Brand Values:
• Customer First
• Integrity
• Velocity
• Innovation
• Outstanding People
We're the perfect size for you to make an impact. W
Only Ciena has the depth of expertise and the culture of collaboration and partnership required to help our partners evolve. We do this by strategically integrating hardware, services, and software in an open environment to ensure our clients’ networks are ‘fit for flexibility’ today and into the f
Why Work With Us
We are known for our industry-firsts, including the first coherent optical solution, converged packet-optical platform, and intelligence automation platform. Our commitment extends beyond innovation, logging in over 35,000 volunteer hours and $2 million to worthy causes in 2023. We're the perfect size and culture for you to make a difference.
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