Lead / Principal Software Integration Engineer – Optical Networking

Talentlab; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Talentlab in Ottawa, Ontario, is seeking a Lead / Principal Software Integration Engineer to drive the integration of embedded software with SDN and DWDM platforms. You will shape integration strategies, validate end-to-end workflows, and mentor a growing local team.

The role emphasizes Python-based test automation, CI/CD collaboration, and close work with software, hardware, and architecture groups to ensure robust, scalable optical networking solutions.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in embedded systems software verification, integration, or system-level testing.
• 5+ years of experience in optical networking, with DWDM exposure.
• Strong understanding of ROADMs, OTN, and optical networking architectures.
• Experience with SDN controllers or network management systems.
• Experience with NETCONF/YANG, RESTCONF, CLI, SNMP, or gRPC.
• Strong Python scripting skills for automated integration or system testing.
• Experience testing Linux-based embedded systems.
• Knowledge of TCP/IP, Ethernet, OSPF, BGP, LLDP, RSTP.
• Familiarity with EDFA, WSS, OSC, OCM, OTDR.
• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute system integration and test strategies for DWDM platforms and SDN-based controllers.
• Validate end-to-end functionality between management systems, SDN controllers, and optical network elements.
• Design and automate integration test cases for provisioning, alarms, telemetry, upgrades, and interfaces.
• Perform system-level testing of networking protocols (OSPF, BGP, LLDP).
• Validate optical functionality involving ROADMs, amplifiers, and WSS/OTDR components.
• Develop and maintain Python-based test automation frameworks for CI and regression testing.
• Collaborate with software, hardware, and architecture teams to fix issues and improve performance.
• Support customer validation activities and ensure features meet requirements.
• Help establish integration methodologies and engineering standards as the Ottawa team grows.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers.

Skills

Embedded systems

Python scripting

Linux-based systems

Networking awareness

Test automation

Mentoring/leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or CS

Tools

NETCONF/YANG

RESTCONF

CLI

SNMP

gRPC

CI/CD: Jenkins/GitLab

Job description

Lead / Principal Software Integration Engineer – Optical Networking

Location: Ottawa, ON
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
We're partnered with a global technology leader in optical networking and communications infrastructure that is making a significant investment in expanding its engineering presence in Ottawa. As part of this growth, our client is building a team of experienced engineers who will play a key role in developing and delivering the next generation of optical networking technologies.
We're looking for Lead and Principal Software Integration Engineers who bring deep expertise in optical networking systems and are excited by the opportunity to help shape a growing engineering team. You'll work at the intersection of optical transport systems, embedded software, and software-defined networking (SDN), ensuring that complex networking technologies operate seamlessly together. This is an opportunity to influence system integration strategies, establish engineering best practices, and contribute to the technical direction of a team being built for long-term growth.
What You'll Be Doing

• Develop and execute system integration and test strategies for DWDM optical networking platforms and SDN-based network controllers.
• Validate end-to-end functionality between network management systems, SDN controllers, and optical network elements.
• Design and automate integration test cases covering optical provisioning, alarms, telemetry, software upgrades, and network management interfaces.
• Perform system-level testing of networking protocols including OSPF, BGP, LLDP, and other Layer 2 / Layer 3 technologies.
• Validate optical networking functionality involving ROADMs, optical amplifiers, wavelength selective switches, and optical transport technologies.
• Develop and maintain Python-based test automation frameworks, supporting continuous integration and regression testing.
• Collaborate with software development, hardware engineering, and system architecture teams to identify integration issues and improve overall system performance.
• Support customer validation activities, ensuring new features and system capabilities meet technical and operational requirements.
• Help establish integration methodologies, automation practices, and engineering standards as the Ottawa team expands.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to other engineers, contributing to the development of a strong local engineering team.

What We're Looking For

• 8+ years of experience in embedded systems software verification, integration, or system-level testing.
• 5+ years of experience in optical networking, with hands-on exposure to DWDM systems and Layer 0 / Layer 1 optical transport equipment.
• Strong understanding of optical networking architectures, including ROADMs, optical line systems, and OTN technologies.
• Experience integrating and testing network elements with SDN controllers or network management systems.
• Experience with network management protocols and interfaces such as NETCONF/YANG, RESTCONF, CLI, SNMP, or gRPC.
• Strong Python scripting skills and experience developing automated integration or system test solutions.
• Experience testing Linux-based embedded systems.
• Knowledge of networking protocols including TCP/IP, Ethernet, OSPF, BGP, LLDP, or RSTP.
• Familiarity with optical networking components such as EDFA, WSS, OSC, OCM, and OTDR.
• A degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.

Additional Experience That Would Be Valuable

• Experience with high-speed optical transponders and 100G, 400G, or 800G technologies.
• Familiarity with OpenConfig, YANG data models, and network management security protocols.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, Jenkins, GitLab, and automated regression testing.
• Experience with third-party network test equipment and multi-vendor interoperability testing.
• Experience supporting customer acceptance testing or validating complex optical networking deployments.
• Experience establishing integration processes, leading technical initiatives, or mentoring engineers.

Why Consider This Opportunity?
This is a chance to join an established global technology organization while helping build something new in Ottawa. You'll have the resources and technical challenges of a major industry player, combined with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on a growing local engineering team.
We're considering experienced engineers at both Lead and Principal levels, with opportunities to take technical ownership, influence engineering practices, and grow alongside the organization.