Consulting Solution Engineer

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.

Strategic, sales and customer-facing consulting engineer combining the highest levels of proficiency in routing & switching (including hands-on depth) with the ability to articulate solution differentiation and business value. Operates alongside S3/SE/PLM in high-visibility customer engagements, mentors multiple TSEs, and serves as a sought-after resource for internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Own consultative engagements end-to-end: discovery, architecture advocacy, test-plan influence, and value articulation.
• Lead strategic trials, capture outcomes and learnings, and translate them into adoption-driving collateral.
• Evangelize solution differentiation and drive corresponding solution implementation for customer demo lab.
• Shape portfolio strategy through competitive insights and standards participation; publish patents/white papers.
• Work closely with SE&I leadership to identify SVS opportunities and position value to Ciena customers , helping to drive adoption of SVS.
• Lead the process of providing SE&I inputs into PLM during release planning process
• Prime the incubation of new products/solutions targeted at large market opportunities, and lead technical engagement with top customers
• Partner with Solution Architects; define relationships and handoffs; coach TSE engineers as a mentor-of-mentors.
• May provide SE&I team leadership coverage from time to time to fill-in for manager when he is away or on PTO

Customer-specific (DCOM) Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Customer's Technical Staff as their Ciena DCOM Design Partner.   
• Define gaps and opportunities to improve performance and capabilities of existing Ciena DCOM solution.
• Work with SMEs inside Ciena to define new features and functions
• Work with Customer's Technical Staff to refine and align proposed solutions with production deployment requirements
• Once productized by Ciena R&D and Test, support integration testing in customer's pre-production test environment
• Coordinate the responses to DCOM customer pre-production issues, requests and technical questions posted on Workplace and Google Chat

Required Skills & Knowledge

• Broad multi-domain networking expertise; strong awareness of competitive landscape and positioning.
• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and negotiation skills; executive presence.
• Ability to connect technical capabilities to business outcomes and ROI.

Experience

15+ years; proven record influencing strategic customer decisions and driving adoption.

Education & Certifications

Bachelor’s degree (EE/CS/E&C) or equivalent; thought-leadership contributions preferred (public speaking, publications).

Success Metrics (KPIs)

• Adoption and revenue influence; trial success and differentiation demonstrated.
• Executive stakeholder satisfaction; repeat strategic engagement invitations.
• Mentoring impact and thought-leadership footprint (white papers/patents).

The annual pay range for this position is $169,100 - $270,100 USD

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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.