Ciena

Senior Optical Engineer

Italy · Work style not stated · Full time

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About the role

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EmployerCiena
LocationItaly
Work styleWork style not stated
Employment typeFull time
Employer posted9 Oct 2026

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 is seeking an experienced Senior Optical Engineer to join our multidisciplinary team and contribute to the design, development, testing, and manufacturing scale-up of advanced optical and photonic products. This role will be a hands-on technical contributor responsible for designing photonic integrated circuits (PICs), engineering optical subsystems, executing optical characterization activities, and supporting products throughout the full lifecycle from concept through manufacturing. The engineer will have the opportunity to contribute across different areas depending on their experience and expertise, while developing deeper knowledge in other aspects of the product.

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The successful candidate will work closely with cross-functional teams including hardware, software, manufacturing, and systems engineering to deliver innovative optical solutions that support Ciena's next-generation networking and photonics roadmap.

How You Will Make an Impact:

Design, simulate, and optimize photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and optical modules for optical communication, monitoring, sensing, and related applications.
Work with foundry PDKs, understand their building blocks, models, design rules and process constraints, and evaluate their suitability for product requirements.
Develop optical characterization and calibration methodologies.
Define, execute, and document optical test plans, including measurement methodologies, data collection, performance analysis, and reliability validation.
Utilize Python to automate test environments, control laboratory instruments, perform data analysis, and improve engineering efficiency.
Support productindustrialization and high-volume manufacturing, with focus on manufacturability, testability, repeatability, process variation, and yield.
Collaborate closely with hardware, electronics, software, systems, and manufacturing teams to resolve interdisciplinary technical challenges and ensure successful product integration.
Analyze optical performance data, troubleshoot complex issues, and drive root-cause analysis and design improvements.
Provide technical expertise and guidance to project teams while supporting the successful execution of development programs.

The Must Haves:

Education: Master's or Ph.D. degree in Optics, Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
Experience: 5+ years of hands-on experience designing, testing, and integrating optical and photonic technologies.
Strong experience in the design and simulation of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) using tools such as Lumerical, VPIphotonics, or equivalent photonic design platforms.
Proficiency in Python for instrument control, laboratory automation, data processing, and engineering analysis.
Hands-on experience with optical characterization and calibration equipment, including Optical Spectrum Analyzers, Optical Power Meters, Tunable Lasers, Polarization Controllers, and related laboratory instrumentation.
Experience with fiber-optic technologies, including optical alignment, coupling, splicing, and integration with photonic devices and subsystems.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot complex optical and photonic systems.
Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

Nice to Haves:

Experience with manufacturing scale-up, yield analysis, DFM, production test, reliability, or product qualification.
Knowledge of photonic device packaging and integration, including thermal, mechanical, and manufacturability considerations.
Familiarity with version control tools such as Git.
Experience working in Agile development environments.
Experience with optical communication systems, including optical amplifiers, coherent communication systems, sensors, or other advanced photonic technologies.
Experience working within telecommunications, networking, optical transport, or high-technology product development organizations.
Familiarity with photonic system modeling, signal integrity analysis, and optical performance optimization techniques.

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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.

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