{"id":2048145,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ciena-optical-system-architect","title":"Optical System Architect","company":{"id":1996,"name":"Ciena Corporation","domain":"ciena.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/ciena","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":null},"role":"DevOps","role_family":"DevOps","seniority":"staff","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["New Providence, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":134000,"max_usd":262000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":509},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-07T20:41:24Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-07","last_verified_at":"2026-10-11T19:17:01Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":3,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":3},"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.\nJoin Ciena’s xPO System Architecture and Simulation team driving next-generation optical interconnect innovation for AI-scale systems. This role shapes the architecture of emerging Near-Packaged Optics (NPO) and Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) solutions, ensuring industry-leading performance across integrated photonics, packaging, and system-level design.\nHow you will make an impact:\nDefine architectures for current and future xPO interconnect products\nEvaluate high-level system requirements and translate them into subcomponent specifications for engineering teams\nLead system-level modeling and simulation efforts to enable end-to-end performance validation\nCorrelate simulated and measured performance data to refine internal models\nAdvance internally developed Python-based link simulation tools\nCollaborate across photonic integrated circuits (PICs), electrical integrated circuit (EICs), packaging, and other engineering groups to optimize system design\nPresent system insights and results to internal and external stakeholders\nThe must haves:\nMaster’s degree (+) in Optics/Photonics, Physics, or Electrical Engineering with industry experience in simulation, measurement, or system architecture\nKnowledge of high-speed photonics and optical system design with emphasis on integrated photonics\nUnderstanding of signal integrity principles and intensity modulation/direct detection (IMDD) transceiver design\nProficiency in Python programming\nAbility to synthesize complex technical findings into clear communication\nNice to haves:\nPhD in Optics/Photonics, Physics, or Electrical Engineering\nFamiliarity with IEEE and Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) standards\nExperience with signal integrity and power integrity analysis\nKnowledge of digital signal processing and numerical analysis\nBackground in silicon photonics\nExperience with high-speed test and measurement tools such as vector network analyzers (VNAs), bit-error-rate testers (BERTs), and oscilloscopes\nPay Range:\nThe annual pay range for this position is $117,800 - $188,200\nPay 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.\nNon-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.\nAt 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.\nCiena is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.\nIf contacted in relation to a job opportunity, please advise Ciena of any accommodation measures you may require.","description_format":"text","description_chars":3843,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"master","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Parental leave"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Telecommunications","Telecom Infrastructure","Optical Communications"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-07T20:41:24Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 36 · green card filings: 4","filings_12m":36,"filings_prev_12m":31,"green_card_filings_12m":4,"median_offered_wage_usd":158000,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-03T21:08:04+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":21}],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":2,"expected_fill_days":37,"reasons":["conf:7","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-10T05:45:15Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ciena-optical-system-architect","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ciena-optical-system-architect.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-11T19:49:26Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":7056,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-12T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1996},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1996"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fciena-optical-system-architect"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fciena-optical-system-architect"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fciena-optical-system-architect"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/ciena-optical-system-architect\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fciena-optical-system-architect"}]}