OLT Embedded Software Engineer (Junior / Mid-Level / Senior)

Description

Role Summary

Zhone Technologies is hiring Embedded Software Engineers across three career levels: Junior, Mid-Level and Senior. During the application process, candidates will answer a screening question to indicate the level they intend to apply for. In this role, you will develop and maintain embedded software for access network equipment including DSLAMs, GPON, and fiber access nodes. Scope and ownership increase by level, from contributing to feature development under guidance to leading architecture, technical direction, and team mentorship.

Key Responsibilities (All Levels):

Software Development & Standards

• Implement and maintain embedded software features in C/C++; resolve bugs and ensure backward compatibility.
• Integrate standards-based network management features: Netconf/YANG, TR-069, OMCI, and SNMP.
• Ensure compliance with BBF, ITU-T, MEF, and ETSI standards; contribute to SDN/VOLTHA-based architectures.
• Apply best practices in code quality through unit testing, documentation, and peer reviews.

Testing & CI/CD

• Develop and maintain Python-based test scripts for feature verification and regression testing.
• Follow and contribute to CI/CD pipelines for continuous integration and delivery.
• Collaborate with QA and hardware teams to reproduce and resolve issues in lab and field environments.

Collaboration & Agile

• Participate in Agile/Scrum ceremonies: daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives.
• Work closely with hardware, QA, systems engineering, and product management teams.
• Document software changes, design decisions, and troubleshooting procedures.

Additional Responsibilities for Senior-Level Candidates

• Lead and mentor a team of embedded engineers; review and approve software designs.
• Own architectural decisions for subsystems; enforce coding standards and documentation practices.
• Lead SDN-based control plane and VOLTHA architecture design; define team-wide test strategy.

Requirements

Please review the requirements for each level below and select the level you intend to apply for during the application screening process.

Junior Embedded Software Engineer (0-2 Years)

• Degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science.
• Academic or internship C/C++ experience; eagerness to learn RTOS and embedded Linux.
• Exposure to telecom protocols (TR-069, OMCI, SNMP) and access technologies (xDSL, GPON).

Mid-Level Embedded Software Engineer (3-5 Years)

• 2-5 years of embedded C/C++ development with RTOS or embedded Linux.
• Hands-on integration of Netconf/YANG, TR-069, OMCI, or SNMP.
• Familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, RESTful APIs, and JSON/XML/YAML.
• Knowledge of access technologies: xDSL, GPON, XGS-PON, G.fast, FTTx.

Senior Embedded Software Engineer (5+ Years)

• Proven leadership of embedded software teams on complex telecom projects.
• Deep expertise in SDN architectures, VOLTHA, and Netconf/YANG.
• Strong architectural governance, CI/CD ownership, and excellent problem-solving skills.

Nice to Have (All Levels)

• Exposure to VOLTHA, OpenOMCI, or open-source telecom/networking projects.
• Network OS experience: SONiC, ONL, or ZebOS.
• Familiarity with Docker, Kafka, or gRPC for AI/service integration.
• Experience with LLMs, MCP servers, and RAG systems.