Product Engineer - onsite in New Jersey

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.

Join Ciena’s Non-Coherent Datacenter Interconnects Team as a Product Engineer!

Are you ready to shape the future of high-quality, high-volume optical products? Ciena’s Non-Coherent Datacenter Interconnects team is seeking an experienced Product Engineer to drive innovation and excellence in delivering complex optical and electrical interconnect products (Vesta and Nitro product portfolio). Be part of a dynamic environment where your expertise will make a tangible impact from design through prototyping and into manufacturing. This is an onsite role in New Jersey.

How You Will Contribute:
As a Product Engineer, you will focus on developing and optimizing high-speed, cost-effective optical solutions tailored for hyperscale data centers and enterprise networks. Collaborate with R&D, New Product Introduction (NPI), and Operations to ensure the successful delivery of non-coherent optical products that meet the unique demands of modern datacenter environments, including high capacity, low latency, and energy efficiency. Utilize your skills to rollout and manage products and their lifecycles, oversee assembly & test requirements compliance and support product reliability qualification.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support product development and optimization for manufacturing optical and electrical interconnect products.
• Collaborate with R&D and Operations teams to define manufacturing requirements and assembly specifications.
• Develop and document processes, tools, and workflows to enable seamless product transitions into production.
• Drive process automation and create automation tools to enhance efficiency.
• Transition designs into Contract Manufacturers (CMs) and facilitate on-site support for training, quality, and delivery.
• Work with diverse global teams and interact with CMs and vendors to ensure alignment on processes, quality, and delivery schedules.
• Own product bill-of-materials (BOM) and their lifecycle changes

The Must Haves:

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical, Electrical, Mechanical, Production Engineering, or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in optical/electronics manufacturing or product engineering.
• Proven track record of launching complex optical/electronic products to market.
• Knowledge of fiber optic transmission and associated testing methodologies.
• Experience owning product BOMs thru product lifecycle management software (Agile) a must
• Ability to create and manage automated processes, automation tools, and data analysis tools.
• Hands-on experience with fiber optic assembly, handling, and splicing.
• Strong problem-solving skills and effective written and oral communication abilities.
• Capacity to collaborate with cross-functional teams and CMs globally across time zones.

Nice to Haves:

• Advanced degree in Optical/Electrical/Mechanical/Production Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience with specialty and ribbon fiber splicing.
• Prior experience debugging complex optical assemblies.
• Familiarity with high-pressure environments and remote issue resolution.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Experience working with multi-functional, multi-locational teams.

Pay Range:
The annual pay range for this position is $110, 400 - $176, 400
 

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.