Embedded Software System Developer- Optical

Ciena; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 93,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in Ottawa is seeking an Embedded Software System Developer to provide technical support for optical modules. This role combines software design with customer interaction, requiring strong problem-solving and communications skills. Candidates should have extensive experience in embedded software and API development, especially in communication technologies. The position offers competitive pay and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Paid sick leave

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in embedded software and API development with direct experience in system integration in communications technologies.
• 3+ years experience in embedded software and API development on optical/electrical module technologies.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to customers.
• Create software reference designs to assist in integration.
• Debug software issues with the design team.
• Drive working-level meetings with customer engineers.
• Provide customer on-site support as needed.

Skills

Strong communication and teamwork skills

Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills

Job description

Overview

As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena is committed to a people-first approach. Our teams emphasize a flexible work environment that empowers growth, well-being, and belonging. We’re a technology company that leads with our humanity—driving 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 labs 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

#LI-WH1

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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Ciena is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.

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