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.
Embedded Software System Developer- Optical is a direct customer-facing role providing customers with strong technical support in Ciena’s optical module and components business. This is a role for people who like to work in the lab; both the Ciena lab and our customers lab to turn cutting edge technology into cutting edge products and solutions.
This role leverages your design experience, takes you out of the regular design cycle and into a dynamic customer driven environment, preparing for the next generation of solutions while resolving the problems of today. You will work on the latest generation interconnect technologies including DSPs, coherent interfaces and high-speed PAM SERDES at the lowest levels, allowing you to remain technical while gaining customer facing experience.
This role has regular, direct customer exposure & contact to all the major global content providers including hyperscalers. You will have the opportunity to understand the latest applications like data center interconnects for AI. You will see and shape how technology adapts to this challenge and the next set of challenges beyond that.
How You Will Contribute:
Ciena’s WaveLogic Technologies modules and components business is an exciting opportunity to diversify and expand Ciena’s addressable market by making its industry-leading coherent optical module technology and components available to a wider range of industry participants, gaining greater access to new geographies and addressing new market segments.
As an embedded software system developer, you will be a key contributor to the team, working closely with our Product Line Managers (PLM) and R&D teams to bring our technology into customer products. In addition to exciting technical challenges, you will gain insight into the business aspects of what we do. In this role you will represent Ciena, so competency and professionalism are paramount.
You will…
· Work with PLM to provide technical leadership and guidance, with a focus on design wins. You will need to describe in-depth our technology solutions (modules and/or components) to our customers, followed by technical expertise in integrating these solutions into our customers products.
· Create software reference designs (API suites) to enable our customers to quickly integrate our technology.
· Debug software issues with the design team and participate in code reviews of solutions.
· Drive regular working-level meetings with customer engineers, capturing new issues or questions, and ensure issue follow-up and resolution.
· Provide customer on-site support, when required, to quickly resolve integration issues.
· Create and drive product demos or evaluation boards at industry trade-show events or customer labs.
· Execute lab tests when necessary to reproduce customer issues.
· Work closely with Ciena R&D to develop, based on analysis of customer needs, requirements that enhance our modules and components.
You will learn…
· How to build high speed interconnect solutions for applications like data center interconnections.
· How to integrate components into products that address real life applications.
· How high-speed interfaces work at the lowest levels.
Required experience:
· 5+ years experience in embedded software and API development with direct experience in system integration in communications technologies.
OR
· 3+ years experience in embedded software and API development on optical/electrical module technologies.
Required skills:
· Strong communication and teamwork skills.
· Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, shown through first-product bring-up.
Assets:
· Strong knowledge of the underlying components used in the design of optical modules (lasers, DSPs, TIAs, optical receivers, etc).
· Experience with high-speed DSP-based electrical serdes architecture, design and/or applications.
· Direct customer-facing experience, with a strong customer-oriented attitude and behavior. Our customers are essential to our business, and deserve to always be treated with respect, professionalism and responsiveness.
· Experience authoring datasheets, SW API guides and/or application notes.
Pay Range:
The annual pay range for this position is $93,600 - $149,400 CAD
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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.
Non-Sales employees may be eligible for a discretionary incentive bonus, while Sales employees may be eligible for a sales commission. In addition to competitive compensation, Ciena offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, participation in 401(K) (USA) & DCPP (Canada) with company matching, Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), company-paid holidays, paid sick leave, and vacation time. We also comply with all applicable laws regarding Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence.
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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
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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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