Senior Hardware Engineer

Ciena; New Providence (NJ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

Ciena in the United States is seeking a hands-on Hardware Engineer to validate designs and bring up new boards in a lab environment. You will collaborate with design teams to identify issues early through schematic reviews and rigorous testing.

The role requires a Bachelors or Masters in Electrical Engineering, 3+ years of board bring-up experience, and strong fundamentals in analog and digital electronics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering
• 3+ years of board bring-up and prototype validation experience
• Fundamentals of electronics across analog and digital domains
• Ability to read and review schematics
• Experience with lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, power supplies)
• Familiarity with interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, PCIe a plus)
• Debugging and problem-solving techniques
• Scripting or automation experience (Python or similar) for lab workflows

Responsibilities

• Review analog and digital schematics for correctness and alignment with design practices
• Identify risks related to power integrity, signal integrity, component selection, and layout constraints
• Provide feedback to improve reliability and testability
• Perform board bring-up activities for new boards and prototypes
• Debug power, clocking, interface, and system-level issues
• Evaluate SI, noise, timing and power behavior and develop basic validation tests
• Conduct root-cause analysis of hardware failures and recommend corrective actions
• Document schematic reviews, lab findings, and debug reports

Skills

Board bring-up

Power integrity

Signal integrity

Schematic reading

Lab instrumentation

Python scripting

Debugging

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

Altium

Cadence

KiCad

OrCAD

Job description

As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena builds the critical infrastructure powering the AI era. We’re a technology company shaping the future of networking, guided by innovation, integrity, and collaboration. Through development opportunities, meaningful work, and flexibility, Ciena supports growth and well-being—on and off the job. Connect with a career that matters.

Ciena is advancing the adaptive network through innovation in optical and routing systems, services, and automation software. We are seeking a hands-on Hardware Engineer who enjoys deep technical analysis, practical measurement work, and collaborating closely with design teams to ensure robust, high-quality hardware systems. This position plays a key role in validating designs, identifying issues early through schematic reviews, and troubleshooting hardware in a lab environment using industry-standard instrumentation.

How You Will Make An Impact

• Review analog and digital schematics for correctness, completeness, and alignment with design best practices
• Identify risks related to power integrity, signal integrity, component selection, and layout constraints and collaborate cross-functionally to isolate cross-domain issues
• Provide actionable feedback to improve reliability, manufacturability, and testability
• Perform board bring-up activities for new boards and prototypes
• Debug power, clocking, interface, and system-level issues
• Evaluate signal integrity, noise, timing and power behavior and develop/execute basic validation test procedures
• Execute root-cause analysis of hardware failures and recommend corrective actions
• Conduct electrical measurements using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, DMMs, spectrum analyzers, and power supplies
• Capture and analyze waveforms to validate performance against specifications
• Document schematic reviews, lab findings, and prepare debug reports to support knowledge sharing

The Must Haves

• Education: Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering
• Experience: 3+ years experience in board bring-up and prototype validation
• Application of electronics fundamentals across analog and digital domains
• Capability to read and review schematics
• Utilization of lab instrumentation including oscilloscopes and power supplies
• Familiarity with common interfaces (e.g., SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, PCIe is a plus)
• Application of debugging and problem-solving techniques
• Scripting or automation experience (Python or similar) for lab workflows

Nice To Haves

• Exposure to power electronics including DC/DC converters, PMICs, and power sequencing
• Understanding of signal integrity and high-speed design considerations
• Familiarity with PCB layout concepts
• Experience using EDA tools such as Altium, Cadence, KiCad, or OrCAD
• Embedded firmware experience with ARM microcontrollers

Pay Range: The annual salary range for this position is $99,800 - $159,400 USD

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 an Equal 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.