Senior Optical Engineer

In breve

Ciena, the worldwide leader in high‑speed networking, is looking for a Senior Optical Engineer to join its multidisciplinary group. The company builds advanced optical and photonic products that power next‑generation communication systems, and it promotes a flexible, people‑first culture that supports growth, well‑being and inclusion. In this role the engineer will be a hands‑on contributor throughout the product lifecycle. Core duties include creating and refining photonic integrated circuits and optical modules for communication, monitoring and sensing uses. The individual will work with foundry process design kits, interpret their building blocks and constraints, and assess their fit for product needs. They will also devise and run optical test plans, handle measurement methods, collect data, analyse performance and validate reliability. Automation of test setups and data handling using Python, as well as support for industrialisation and high‑volume manufacturing, focusing on manufacturability, repeatability and yield, are key parts of the day‑to‑day work. Close collaboration with hardware, software, systems and manufacturing teams is required to solve cross‑disciplinary challenges and ensure successful integration. The position demands a Master's or Ph.D. in Optics, Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering or a related field, together with more than five years of practical experience designing, testing and integrating optical and photonic technologies. Candidates must be proficient in photonic circuit simulation tools such as Lumerical or VPIphotonics, and be skilled in Python for instrument control, lab automation and data analysis. Hands‑on familiarity with optical characterization gear, including spectrum analyzers, power meters, tunable lasers and polarization controllers, is essential, as is experience with fiber‑optic alignment, coupling and splicing. Strong analytical abilities, problem‑solving talent, effective teamwork and clear English communication are also required. Additional capabilities are valued but not mandatory. Experience in scaling products to manufacturing, performing yield analysis, design‑for‑manufacturing, production testing, reliability studies or product qualification would be advantageous. Knowledge of photonic device packaging, thermal and mechanical considerations, and familiarity with version‑control systems like Git are also beneficial. Exposure to Agile development practices, optical communication subsystems such as amplifiers or coherent links, and prior work in telecommunications or high‑technology product development are considered pluses. Understanding of photonic system modelling, signal integrity and performance optimisation rounds out the preferred skill set. What the role asks for: - Master's or Ph.D. in Optics, Photonics, Physics, EE or related - 5+ years designing, testing and integrating optical/photonic tech - Proficiency with Lumerical, VPIphotonics or similar PIC tools - Python programming for instrument control and data analysis - Experience using optical spectrum analyzers, power meters, tunable lasers - Hands‑on work with fiber‑optic alignment, coupling and splicing - Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities - Excellent written and spoken English communication - Nice to have: Manufacturing scale‑up and yield analysis experience - Nice to have: Knowledge of photonic packaging and thermal considerations - Nice to have: Familiarity with Git version control - Nice to have: Experience in Agile development environments - Nice to have: Background in optical communication systems - Nice to have: Prior work in telecom or high‑tech product development - Nice to have: Skills in photonic system modelling and performance optimisation