Senior Optics Engineer

Adtran, Inc.; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Adtran, Inc. is seeking a Senior Optical Engineer to design, verify, and support manufacturing of pluggable optical transceiver modules for datacenter, metro, and core networks.

The role collaborates with multiple engineering teams to ensure performance, reliability, and customer requirements while contributing to test strategies and documentation.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of Optical Communications and Digital Communications theory.
• Hands-on testing experience with optical components, modules and subsystems.
• Experience with optical system simulation and analysis tools.
• Test automation experience.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Proven ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop component and subsystem specifications based on product requirements.
• Design and simulate optical components and systems.
• Coordinate with optical, mechanical, digital hardware, firmware, and software engineering teams to achieve product architecture and packaging objectives.
• Generate high-quality design specifications and test plans.
• Define and support production test strategies used at contract manufacturing facilities.
• Support test automation initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.
• Provide technical input to NPI, Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, and Sales.

Skills

Optical communications theory

Optical modules design

Hands-on testing

System simulation tools

Test automation

Technical writing

Communication skills

Independent work

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in Electrical Engineering or Physics

Tools

Optical test equipment

Design/analysis software

Job description

Welcome! Our Growth is Creating Great Opportunities! Our team is expanding, and we want to hire the most talented people we can. Continued success depends on it! Thanks for your interest in working on our team!

Overview

The Senior Optical Engineer will be responsible for the design, verification, and manufacturing support of pluggable optical transceiver modules used in datacenter, metro, and core network applications. This role works cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and operations teams to develop innovative optical communication solutions that meet performance, reliability, and customer requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

Product Development & Design

• Develop component and subsystem specifications based on product requirements.
• Design and simulate optical components and systems.
• Design optical modules and sub-assemblies with manufacturability, testability, quality, and reliability in mind.
• Coordinate with optical, mechanical, digital hardware, firmware, and software engineering teams to achieve product architecture and packaging objectives.
• Generate high-quality technical documentation, including design specifications and test plans.

Testing & Validation

• Evaluate optoelectronic components and subsystems using laboratory test setups.
• Verify compliance with supplier specifications and ADTRAN product requirements.
• Perform reliability testing of optical components and modules, including Telcordia GR-468 and related standards.
• Define and support production test strategies used at contract manufacturing facilities.
• Support test automation initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.

Collaboration & Support

• Provide technical input to New Product Introduction (NPI), Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, and Sales organizations.
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure successful product deployment.
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation plans.
• Support volume manufacturing and ongoing product lifecycle activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Education

Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.

Required Experience & Skills

• Strong knowledge of Optical Communications Theory and Digital Communications Theory.
• Experience designing and developing optical modules and optical sub-assemblies.
• Hands-on testing experience with optical components, modules, and subsystems.
• Experience with optical system simulation and analysis tools.
• Test automation experience.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Proven ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Ethernet standards.
• Familiarity with optical component reliability requirements.
• Experience working with telecommunications standards including Telcordia, IEC, and ITU.

Success Profile

• Is a collaborative team player.
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills.
• Can effectively coordinate with suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Produces high-quality engineering documentation.
• Thrives in a fast-paced product development environment.

Travel

Occasional travel may be required to support activities at other ADTRAN locations, customer sites, or supplier/manufacturing partner facilities.

Adtran is a leading global provider of fiber-based networking solutions and SaaS applications, focused on the broadband access market. Our comprehensive portfolio spans from the metro core to the customer premises, enabling network providers to deliver Gigabit broadband to every home and business. Our vision is to enable a fully connected world where the power to communicate is available to everyone, everywhere. At Adtran, we believe in our people. With a diverse and inclusive team spread across the globe, our culture embraces creativity and seeks innovation and quality in everything we do. Built on a foundation of communication, trust, collaboration, and an entrepreneurial spirit enables us to be a global technology leader and a strong customer advocate. Adtran began operations in January 1986. Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, Adtran is located in Cummings Research Park - the second-largest research park in the U.S. and fourth-largest in the world. Our mailing address is 901 Explorer Boulevard, Huntsville, Alabama, 35806. Adtran, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adtran Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADTN and FSE: QH9). Find out more at adtran.com, or follow our story on LinkedIn and Twitter.