Hardware Systems Architect (Optical Networking)
About The Position
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. As a System Architect within Ciena’s Optical Networks Systems Architecture team, this role drives the architecture, validation, and evolution of next-generation coherent optical networking platforms. The position influences product direction from concept definition through deployment by integrating optical, electrical, software, and networking technologies. Contributions directly support solutions used by service providers, cloud providers, and network operators worldwide.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering.
- 10+ years of hardware, system design, or system support experience in optical networking or related high-speed technologies.
- Demonstrated experience defining system architectures and driving technical decisions across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Application of coherent optical systems and line card architecture in product development environments.
- Background in optical protection architectures and high-speed signal integrity.
- Application of networking protocols, including Ethernet (400/800/1600GE+) and OTN.
- Utilization of synchronization technologies, including PTP and SyncE, with analytical and communication skills applied in engineering environments.
Responsibilities
- Architect coherent optical line card solutions, including requirements definition, functional partitioning, and system-level modeling across optical, electrical, and control subsystems.
- Define architectural requirements for optical protection methods and coherent modem-based systems, including performance expectations, signal flows, control integration, and interoperability constraints.
- Lead evaluations of high-speed hardware architectures involving 400/800/1600GE+ connectivity standards, SerDes technologies, pluggable optics, and backplane or fabric integration.
- Define system-level interactions across hardware, firmware, software, and management interfaces while guiding key technical decisions throughout product development.
- Guide system integration activities, including hardware characterization, modem performance validation, software bring-up, and interoperability testing.
- Oversee end-to-end system-level validation that replicates customer use cases and investigate complex technical issues identified during bring-up and testing.
- Produce technical documentation, present architectural content, and collaborate across engineering, PLM, and field teams to resolve customer issues and align product direction.
Benefits
- 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
- vacation time
- Paid Family Leave
- other leaves of absence
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
