Embedded Software Engineer – Co-op (Fall 2025 - 4-16 Months)

Ciena; Ottawa; On-site; Full time

Job summary

Ciena is looking for a motivated student to join their team for a work term of 4, 8, 12, or 16 months starting in September 2025. The role involves designing and maintaining real-time embedded software for various products. Candidates should be enrolled in a relevant degree and have experience with C or C++. The position offers competitive hourly pay and various benefits.

Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Company-paid holidays

Paid sick leave

Vacation pay

Qualifications

• Experience with C or C++ programming.
• Enrolled in a relevant engineering or computer science degree.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain embedded platform and application software.
• Work with Linux and VxWorks kernels and drivers for hardware components.

Skills

C

C++

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Computer or Electrical Engineering

Tools

git

BitBucket

Gerrit

Jira

Google Test

JUnit

Robot

PyTest

gdb

Job description

Ciena is committed to our people-first philosophy. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a personalized and flexible work environment that empowers an individual’s passions, growth, wellbeing 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:

Work term of 4, 8, 12 or 16 months starting in September 2025

How You Will Contribute:

We design, implement, and maintain real-time embedded platform and application software for several of Ciena’s flagship products. Functional areas in our scope range from low level bit flipping drivers to high level software state machines for interfacing with external applications:

• Linux and VxWorks kernels and base software components

• Drivers for proprietary and 3rd party ASICs, FPGAs, and other hardware components.

• Hardware/software interface to provide bridging of various abstraction layers.

• Fault and alarms subsystems to detect, report and maintain defects and manage their hysteresis and co-relations.

• System applications such as traffic/equipment protection, performance monitoring, etc.

• SDKs that abstract the underlying low-level software and hardware to facility platform application developments and integration.

Must Haves:

• Enrolled in a bachelor’s or master's degree in computer or electrical engineering, computer science, or similar disciplines

• Experience with C or C++

Assets:

• Developing software for embedded systems or telecom products

• Understanding of CPU hardware architectures, hardware functional specifications, hardware timing diagrams, device data sheets

• Understanding of real-time operating systems and embedded systems

• Software development tools such as git, BitBucket, Gerrit, Jira, etc.

• Unit test frameworks such as Google Test, JUnit, Robot, PyTest, and the like

• Debuggers and tools (e.g., gdb), especially for troubleshooting embedded systems in user space and kernel space

• High-level programming and scripting languages such as Java, Python, Perl, Tcl, bash

• YANG modeling language and toolchains

• Software development methodologies such as Agile or Waterfall

• Familiarity with datacom and telecom concepts such as DWDM, SONET/SDH, OTN, Ethernet, OSI Model, TCP/IP, MPLS

Pay Range:

The hourly pay range for this position is $24.50 - $33.00

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 anEqual 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.