Systems Architect – Coherent Optical Pluggable

Nokia; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Nokia is seeking an experienced architect to lead the design and architecture of novel coherent optical pluggables within the Optical Architecture group in Ottawa. You will collaborate with Systems Architecture, ASIC designers, and HW/SW teams to translate business needs into robust, scalable solutions.

The role requires deep experience in optical transport systems, multi-disciplinary collaboration, and the ability to steer cross-functional teams from concept through implementation while

Qualifications

• Broad systems knowledge across multi-disciplinary architecture.
• Ability to define high-quality requirements for end-to-end systems.
• Experience with fault, performance and configuration management in complex networks.
• Familiarity with OIF, ITU, IEEE standards.
• Strong written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Define system and product concepts and derive architecture specifications.
• Collaborate with ASIC and HW/SW teams to align implementation with architecture.
• Lead cross-functional feature teams to build consensus on architecture.
• Document product architecture and requirements clearly.
• Engage with product teams to translate customer needs into specifications.
• Provide architecture know-how to SW development teams.

Skills

Systems architecture

Cross-functional leadership

Optical networking

Requirements engineering

Communication skills

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

MSc in Telecommunications or related field

Job description

Job Description

In an increasingly connected world, the pandemic has highlighted just how essential telecom networks are to keeping society running. The Network Infrastructure group is at the heart of a revolution to connectivity, pushing the boundaries to deliver more and faster network capacity to people worldwide through our ambition, innovation, and technical expertise

NILightpath

Join Optical Networks division, where innovation meets scale in the AI-driven data center era. With the recent acquisition of Infinera, we’ve united two industry leaders to create an optical networking powerhouse—combining cutting‑edge technology with proven leadership to redefine the future of connectivity.

As part of Nokia’s Optical Architecture group, you will have a unique opportunity to lead the design and architecture of novel coherent optical pluggable. You will be responsible for architecting and implementing new coherent optical portfolio in collaboration with our Systems Architecture, ASIC designer and Hardware and Software Development teams.

Develop innovative, competitive product architectures and requirements for packet‑optical telecommunications products based on understanding of business requirements, use cases and applicable industry standards (like OIF, ITU, IEEE). Consider trade‑off between cost, function, capacity, and performance. The products to develop include coherent optical pluggable to be introduce both in Nokia platform as well as another host.

How You Will Contribute And What You Will Learn

• Work cooperatively with Product Line Management to define and clarify system & product concepts, features & requirements, including customer use cases and experience expectations.
• Translate the product requirements into system architectural specifications and requirements.
• Work closely with a team of architects and ASIC designers, optical front‑end designers as well as HW/SW developers in establishing the SW architectural specifications.
• Lead the cross‑functional feature teams to facilitate & build consensus on product architecture and technical concepts for product implementation.
• Engage with SW development teams to provide architecture know‑how to the teams and maintain alignment of the implementation with the architecture.
• Documentation of product architecture, requirements and concepts in clear, concise and consistent specifications.
• Investigate new feature requests and customer requirements; propose feature solutions and assess feasibility.
• Work collaboratively with the product documentation team to describe product features and operational concepts in customer documentation.

Key Skills And Experience

• Broad systems knowledge garnered by years of experience specifying and/or leading architectural specifications across multi-disciplines
• Ability to think big-picture and deliver high quality requirements/architecture specifications, geared towards building robust, reliable and the best user experience solutions for the end-to-end integrated system
• Experience defining requirements in the areas of Fault Management, Performance Management, Configuration Management, Service Provisioning and Control Plane features of multi-layer networking products (especially for the L0 and L1 layers)
• Experience with Optical Networking Technologies and Standards including OTN, Ethernet, Encryption capability such as MACSEC
• Familiarity with CMIS, C-CMIS, OIF specification.
• Experience designing and validating link-level control algorithms and optical performance monitoring to optimize end-to-end optical performance.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills

Usage of modern AI tool such as Curs or, AI-SDLC

• Highly motivated team player adept at cross-functional, cross-cultural and international teamwork
• Advanced graduate degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunication or equivalent education.
• Ph.D. + minimum 8 years of relevant work experience
• M.Sc. + minimum 12 years of relevant work experience in optical transport systems or related fields in telecommunications.

About Us

Advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world.

Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across fixed, mobile and transport networks, powered by the innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we’re advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world.

Learn more about life at Nokia .

Our recruitment process

We act inclusively and respect the uniqueness of people. Our employment decisions are made regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to a culture of inclusion built upon our core value of respect.

If you’re interested in this role but don’t meet every listed requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences enrich our teams, and you may be just the right candidate for this or another opportunity.

The length of the recruitment process may vary depending on the specific role’s requirements. We strive to ensure a smooth and inclusive experience for all candidates. Discover more about the recruitment process at Nokia .