Ciena is committed to our people-first philosophy. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a personalized and flexible work environment that empowers an individual’s passions, growth, wellbeing and belonging. We’re a technology company that leads with our humanity—driving our business priorities alongside meaningful social, community, and societal impact. Routing/IP Software Engineer 3 – Routing & Switching Portfolio (Segment Routing, MPLS, BGP, EVPN) Location: Building B, 385 Terry Fox Drive, Ottawa, ON Job Type: Full-time Why Ciena? Ciena is more than a technology leader—we’re a people-first company that champions innovation, diversity, and community impact. As a global network strategy and technology company, we are committed to building a workforce that is as diverse and forward-thinking as the networks we enable. We foster an inclusive, collaborative culture where our people are empowered to grow, challenge boundaries, and shape the future of networking. About the Role As a Routing/IP Senior Software Engineer in Ciena’s Routing & Switching Portfolio division, you will help define and build cutting-edge networking software that powers the modern internet. You’ll be responsible for designing, implementing, and supporting features across Segment Routing, MPLS, EVPN, BGP, and other Layer 2/3 technologies in a high-performance, carrier-grade platform. This is a senior-level engineering role, ideal for someone with a strong foundation in IP networking and a passion for building reliable and scalable distributed systems. Your Responsibilities Feature Development: Design and implement routing features, protocols, and control-plane enhancements focused on MPLS, Segment Routing, BGP, EVPN, and IP services. Software Design: Contribute to the architectural evolution of our routing stack, emphasizing modularity, high availability, and scalability. Collaboration: Work closely with product management, QA, hardware, and platform teams to define feature scope and ensure end-to-end delivery within the Routing & Switching Portfolio. Troubleshooting: Analyze and resolve complex issues involving control-plane behaviour, protocol interactions, and system performance. Code Quality: Write clean, maintainable, well-documented code and support testability through unit and system testing. Mentorship: Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and participate in peer code reviews and design discussions. Continuous Innovation: Stay current with industry trends in routing and contribute ideas to enhance product capabilities. Required Skills and Experience Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Experience: 5+ years of experience in IP/MPLS networking software development. Protocol Proficiency: Strong understanding and hands-on experience with: Segment Routing (SR-MPLS, SRv6) MPLS (LDP, RSVP-TE) BGP and EVPN OSPF, IS-IS, and other dynamic routing protocols Programming Languages: Proficiency in C or C++ is required. Familiarity with scripting languages (e.g., Python) is a must. Systems Knowledge: Deep experience working in Linux-based embedded environments. Development Tools: Experience with Git and Agile development workflows. Debugging Skills: Ability to analyze complex control-plane behaviour and debug issues across distributed systems. Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills for articulating designs and interfacing with cross-functional teams. Ability to manage customer interactions and perform live debugging when required. Nice to Have Knowledge of YANG modelling, NETCONF/RESTCONF Familiarity with scale-out architectures and distributed control planes Experience with service provider-grade hardware and testing tools (e.g., Ixia, Spirent) Exposure to container technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) What You’ll Gain Real Impact: Contribute to solutions powering the world’s largest service provider networks. Growth Opportunities: Advance your career through hands-on experience, mentorship, and access to training. Innovative Environment: Collaborate in a fast-paced, cutting-edge engineering culture within the Routing & Switching Portfolio team. Comprehensive Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, DCPP matching, stock purchase plan, flexible time off, family-related benefits, and more. Being You @ Ciena We celebrate diversity in all forms and are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for all employees. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, we’re here to support you. Ready to help build the future of IP networking? Join us at Ciena. 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 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. Join our Talent Community and get early job alerts, personalized career tips, and insider insights. Discover how Ciena's unique blend of deep humanity and relentless innovation creates an exceptional workplace culture. Explore CienaLife.
