Component Engineer - Optical Commodity

Ciena; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 77,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

Ciena is seeking an Optical Component Engineer in Baltimore to lead qualification and lifecycle management of pluggable optical transceivers. You will drive reliability analyses, supplier audits, and coordination across sourcing, engineering, and manufacturing teams to ensure product quality and supply continuity.

Applicants should have a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering or Physics and 5+ years of related experience, with familiarity with Telcordia, IPC, and JEDEC standards and a track

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Established application of reliability, quality, and failure mechanism analysis for telecommunication components and assemblies.
• Demonstrated delivery of cost reduction activities.
• Application of telecommunication industry standards including Telcordia, IPC, and JEDEC.
• Ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams and influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Technical application of telecommunication specifications, products, manufacturing processes, and data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Define qualification requirements for pluggable optical transceivers based on applicable industry standards.
• Qualify active optical components and establish qualification strategies for onboarding and lifecycle management.
• Conduct supplier audits and track corrective actions through resolution.
• Evaluate product change notifications (PCNs), assess reliability impact, and coordinate internal reviews to closure.
• Coordinate component qualifications for new revisions, replacements, and new manufacturers, including approved vendor list changes.
• Evaluate alternate components to address design, supply chain, quality, or availability challenges.
• Analyze assembly-level test yield trends and facilitate corrective actions and design changes when required.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Physics

Job description

As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena is committed to a people-first approach. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a flexible work environment that empowers individual growth, well-being, and belonging. We're a technology company that leads with our humanity-driving our business priorities alongside meaningful social, community, and societal impact.

Ciena's Supply Chain Procurement organization is seeking an Optical Component Engineer focused on the Pluggable Optical Transceiver commodity. This role drives component quality, reliability, lifecycle management, and supplier engagement to help ensure reliable optical solutions across Ciena products. Success in this position contributes to product performance, supply continuity, and customer satisfaction through collaboration with sourcing, engineering, and manufacturing partners.

How you will make an impact:

• Define qualification requirements for pluggable optical transceivers based on applicable industry standards.
• Qualify active optical components and establish qualification strategies for onboarding and lifecycle management.
• Conduct supplier audits and track corrective actions through resolution.
• Evaluate product change notifications (PCNs), assess reliability impact, and coordinate internal reviews to closure.
• Coordinate component qualifications for new revisions, replacements, and new manufacturers, including approved vendor list changes.
• Evaluate alternate components to address design, supply chain, quality, or availability challenges.
• Analyze assembly-level test yield trends and facilitate corrective actions and design changes when required.

The must haves:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Physics.
• Experience: 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Established application of reliability, quality, and failure mechanism analysis for telecommunication components and assemblies.
• Demonstrated delivery of cost reduction activities.
• Application of telecommunication industry standards including Telcordia, IPC, and JEDEC.
• Ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams and influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Technical application of telecommunication specifications, products, manufacturing processes, and data-driven decision making.

Nice to haves:

• Experience providing technical guidance on pluggable optical transceiver manufacturability and production readiness.
• Background driving internal and external partners to achieve product performance criteria throughout the optical component lifecycle.
• Experience improving manufacturing yields in collaboration with supplier operations.
• Knowledge of product compliance and sustainability programs, including EU RoHS, REACH, and Conflict Minerals requirements.
• Ability to coordinate resolution of component-level issues, including test failures, end-of-life notifications, and product change notices.
• Experience supporting material shortage resolution, supplier negotiations, and supply agreements.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to articulate technical issues.

Pay Range:

CAD 107,000.00 160,800.00

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.

At Ciena, we are committed to building and fostering an environment in which our employees feel respected, valued, and heard. Ciena values the diversity of its workforce and respects its employees as individuals. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination.

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

If contacted in relation to a job opportunity, please advise Ciena of any accommodation measures you may require.