R&D Optical Product Ramp Engineer

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.

Reporting to a Senior Manager, Hardware Engineering, you will work alongside experienced hardware, optical, firmware, reliability, manufacturing, and test engineers responsible for designing, ramping, and sustaining Ciena’s flagship WaveLogic™ optical modems. These products enable data rates of up to 1,600 Gbps and are used by many of the world’s largest telecommunications companies and cloud providers. In this role, you will help improve product yield, support manufacturing ramp, investigate technical issues, and drive hardware, test, or process changes that improve product quality and manufacturability.

This role provides a unique opportunity to develop a deep understanding of WaveLogic optical modems, from product design through manufacturing ramp and volume production. You will gain insight into the processes required to build a high-performance, high-volume product, while making contributions that directly support Ciena’s ability to deliver to customers and grow this flagship product line.

How You Will Contribute:

In this intermediate engineering role, you will support product ramp and sustaining activities, with a focus on yield improvement through test, design, and process improvements. You will combine manufacturing data analysis with hands-on lab debug and cross-functional execution to identify issues, recommend corrective actions, and help drive them to closure.

• Hands-on lab debug: Perform hardware and optical debug of failed modules to identify root cause, validate hypotheses, and define corrective actions using lab measurements and engineering analysis.

• Yield data analysis: Review large-scale manufacturing and test data to assess design, process, or test changes that improve factory yield. Analyze trends, outliers, and common failure modes, then work with cross-functional teams to define practical corrective actions.

• Change management: Plan, coordinate, validate, and release design, test, or process change orders that support yield improvement, ramp readiness, product quality, and manufacturability.

• Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with hardware, optical, firmware, test, reliability, manufacturing, operations, and supplier-facing teams to drive technical issues to closure.

• Documentation and communication: Summarize data analysis, debug findings, recommendations, validation results, and change plans clearly for technical and program stakeholders.

The Must Haves:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Engineering Physics, or equivalent.

• 2–5 years of experience in hardware engineering, electrical engineering, optical hardware, telecommunications equipment, networking platforms, manufacturing test, or another complex electronic-product environment.

• Familiarity with product lifecycle stages, including development, qualification, ramp, volume manufacturing, sustaining, field support, or end-of-life.

• Demonstrated proficiency with statistical analysis techniques such as histogram distributions, Q-Q plots, standard deviation, process capability, Cp, Cpk, or related metrics.

• Experience using scripting or programming tools such as Python or MATLAB for data analysis, automation, or engineering debug.

• Ability to work hands-on in a lab environment and interpret electrical, optical, manufacturing, or system-level test results.

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present technical findings, trade-offs, and recommendations to cross-functional engineering and program teams.

Assets:

• Demonstrated interest in prototyping, embedded hardware, hardware bring-up, or lab-based debug projects.

• Familiarity with coherent optical transceivers, optical modems, DSP-based systems, or high-speed communications hardware.

• Familiarity with high-volume manufacturing, manufacturing test flows, factory yield analysis, or production data systems.

• Experience with optical test equipment, electrical test equipment, automated test platforms, reliability qualification testing, failure analysis, or root-cause corrective action processes.

Salary Range: The annual salary range for this position is $79,300 - $126,700

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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.