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 Coherent Routing provides network operators with a transformative path to achieve IP/Optical convergence. By optimizing network performance through multi-layer operations, dynamic scalability, and improved sustainability, Ciena’s Coherent Routing delivers more than just collapsing network layers. It takes a holistic approach, integrating purpose-built routing, leading coherent optics, and intelligent, flexible photonics.

At Ciena, we prioritize a people-first approach, fostering a culture of flexibility, individual growth, well-being, and belonging. As a technology company that leads with humanity, we align our business priorities with meaningful social, community, and societal impact.

How You Will Contribute

• Collaborate across all stages of the software development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, functional specification, design, coding, integration, verification, and support.

• Engineer software in C/C++ for advanced Layer 2, MPLS, and IP services, including drivers, APIs, and dataplane applications.

• Design and develop software for real-time embedded Linux environments.

• Contribute to new product releases, networking features, and enhancements of existing software.

• Manage personal project tasks, including effort estimation, tracking, monitoring, reporting, and addressing potential issues impacting functionality or timelines.

• Apply Agile methodologies to software engineering processes.

• Develop carrier-grade software using test-driven development, automated unit testing, and comprehensive integration testing.

• Reduce backlog defects and troubleshoot issues, collaborating with hardware, software, and system engineers to identify root causes.

The Must Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering.

• 5+ years of experience in embedded software development within networking or telecommunications environments.

• Proficiency in C programming language.

• Expertise in developing software for multi-processor, concurrent systems operating in embedded Linux environments.

• Experience in real-time embedded software development for dataplane technologies:

Hardware-based Layer 2/3 forwarding engines (ASICs, NPUs, FPGAs, TCAMs).

• End-to-end slow path forwarding and packet exception handling.

• MPLS, BGP, and Segment Routing solutions.

• IPv4, IPv6, E-VPN, and IP-VPN.

• Embedded fast protection mechanisms like BFD, BGP-PIC, and FRR.

• Traffic management, metering, ACLs.

• Strong knowledge of mutual exclusion, synchronization, interrupt handling, and inter-process communication.

Nice to Haves

• Experience with Broadcom DNX/XGS packet processing chipsets.

• Familiarity with Datapath programming using DPDK.

• Enthusiastic, motivated, and innovative mindset.

• Self-driven problem solver with a willingness to learn and work independently.

• Strong verbal and written technical communication skills.

• Effective collaborator in multi-site, multi-geography team environments.

Pay Range: $81,600.00 - $130,400.00 CAD

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.

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community to get relevant job alerts straight to your inbox.

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.