Senior Forward Deployed 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.

We are seeking a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) to join the AI / DC infrastructure routing product team. The FDE will ensure the successful introduction and adoption of our next-generation Petabit-class routing platform targeted at hyperscalers. This role sits at the intersection of customer architecture and engineering, Ciena R&D, and product management. You will be the technical bridge-embedding with customer labs to validate and integrate our platform, feeding critical insights back to R&D, and guiding the product team to deliver a solution that precisely meets the most demanding hyperscaler requirements.

This is a hands-on, high-impact role where success is measured by the speed and quality of customer acceptance, smooth integration into their infrastructure, and the ability to influence product direction with real-world feedback.

How You Will Contribute :

• Lead the certification, testing, integration, and initial deployment of Petabit-class routing platforms across customer environments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Ciena product, R&D, and account teams to deliver economic value.
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues in real-time and provide strategic guidance to clients.
• Document deployment architectures, operational procedures, and best practices.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to internal knowledge sharing.

Customer Lab Engagement

Bridge Between Teams

Control Plane & Protocol Expertise

Technical Enablement

The Must Haves : Technical Expertise

Collaboration Skills

The annual pay range for this position is $134,100 - $214,100 CAD

#LI-WH1

#LI-Remote

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.

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community to get relevant job alerts straight to your inbox.

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 anEqual 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.