Staff Optical Engineer

Nokia; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company is seeking an Optical Design Verification Test Engineer in Ottawa, Canada. In this role, you will be responsible for testing and validating optical components, ensuring they meet stringent performance specifications. The ideal candidate has a PhD in Optical Engineering and experience in coherent optical communication, along with proficiency in Python scripting for test automation. This position offers a chance to contribute directly to innovative optical networking solutions.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in coherent optical communication.
• Familiarity with optical communication systems and impairments.
• Hands-on experience with high-speed coherent optical transceivers.

Responsibilities

• Develop and run test plans for optical components.
• Verify and improve optical performance.
• Validate entire systems through end-to-end testing.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts.
• Work with teams to resolve optical performance issues.

Skills

Optical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Applied Physics

Python scripting

Problem-solving

Education

PhD degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics or related majors

Tools

Optical spectrum analyzers

Real-time oscilloscopes

Git

SQL

NoSQL

Job description

As an Optical Design Verification Test (ODVT) Engineer you will be responsible for the comprehensive testing, validation, and performance characterization of optical components, modules, and systems. This position involves developing and executing detailed test plans, analyzing complex data, and ensuring that Nokia's optical products meet stringent performance specifications, quality standards, and industry compliance requirements. In this role, you will frequently face intricate technical problems, requiring problem‑solving skills and a deep understanding of state‑of‑the‑art DSP and optical front‑end technologies. You will play a pivotal role in the product development lifecycle, from early‑stage integration to final product release, contributing directly to the delivery of high‑performance and reliable optical networking solutions.

Qualifications

You have

• PhD degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics or related majors
• 3+ years of experience in the area of coherent optical communication
• Familiarity with optical communication systems and its linear and nonlinear impairments and tradeoff, such as cross‑talk, OSNR, chromatic dispersion, PMD, SPM, XPM, FWM etc.
• Familiarity with optical components such as DSPs (Digital Signal Processors), nITLAs (narrow‑linewidth tunable lasers), EDFAs (Erbium‑Doped Fiber Amplifiers), and high‑speed transceivers.
• Hands‑on experience with characterizing and troubleshooting high‑speed coherent optical transceivers using various lab equipment such as optical spectrum analyzers (OSA), wave analyzers, real‑time oscilloscopes, etc.
• Proficiency in Python scripting for test automation, data acquisition, and analysis.

Nice to Have

• Hands‑on experience with system‑level optical communication hardware and components.
• Familiarity with Git workflow and version control systems such as Git, GitHub, Bitbucket, etc.
• Experience with database management systems such as SQL, NoSQL, or time series databases.

Responsibilities

• Test Planning & Execution: Develop and run test plans for optical components, modules, and sub‑systems under various conditions.
• Optical Performance: Verify and improve optical performance, testing aspects like OSNR, signal quality, and environmental resilience. Identify and implement enhancements for modules and systems.
• System Validation: Validate entire systems through end‑to‑end testing, including client traffic, stress tests, and analyzing optical behavior during changes.
• Test Automation: Develop and maintain Python‑based test automation scripts to improve testing efficiency and coverage.
• Issue Resolution: Work with hardware, firmware, and design teams to find and fix optical performance issues, ensuring quick solutions.
• Compare test results to specifications and ensure that requirements can be met.