As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena builds the critical infrastructure powering the AI era. We’re a technology company shaping the future of networking, guided by innovation, integrity, and collaboration. Through development opportunities, meaningful work, and flexibility, Ciena supports growth and well-being—on and off the job. Connect with a career that matters.

Ciena is seeking an Embedded Software Developer intern to design, develop, and maintain high-performance software for networking products. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to networking solutions that support the future of telecommunications while working in a collaborative development environment. How you will make an impact:

Design, implement, and debug embedded software for networking devices.
Develop software in C/C++ and Python.
Design, develop, and maintain intuitive graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that meet product requirements.
Develop and execute unit, integration, and system tests to ensure software quality and reliability.
Analyze and resolve technical issues related to embedded software performance and functionality.

The must haves:

Education: Student in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
Proficiency in C/C++ programming for embedded systems.
Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented design principles.
Familiarity with networking protocols (e.g., Ethernet, TCP/IP).
Familiarity with debugging tools (e.g., JTAG, GDB) and version control systems (e.g., Git).
Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.

Nice to haves:

Previous internship, co-op, or applied project experience relevant to the role.
Experience with device driver development
Hardware bring-up and board validation experience
Familiarity with bootloaders and firmware update mechanisms
Experience with SPI, I2C, UART, GPI

Pay Range:

The hourly pay range for this position is $25.50 to $35.00

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.

In addition to competitive compensation, Ciena offers students access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), company-paid holidays, paid sick leave, and vacation pay as required by applicable laws.

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.

About the company

Ciena designs and sells optical and routing hardware, automation software, and professional services to build adaptive networks for telecom providers, cable operators, governments, and enterprises. Its systems combine physical networking gear with software that automates traffic routing and resource management so networks can adjust in real time to changing demand. It differentiates itself by offering an end-to-end solution—hardware, software, and services—plus a large global customer base and close collaboration with customers and partners. Its goal is to enable richer, more connected experiences by helping customers deploy flexible, scalable networks that meet evolving digital needs.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Linthicum, Maryland

Founded

1992

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

September 28, 2026 CtrlS chose Ciena for 100 Tb/s India metro interconnects.
September 23, 2026 ACE selected Ciena to upgrade Africa-Europe submarine capacity above 30 Tb/s.
September 3, 2026 backlog hit $8.5 billion, with revenue up 37% to $1.67 billion.

What critics are saying

Two customers drove 41.7% of Q3 revenue; one hyperscaler delay hits 2027 immediately.
Ciena’s backlog includes cancelable orders; supply normalization by 2028 crushes pricing power.
If hyperscaler capex stalls, Ciena’s 2029 targets collapse and valuation rerates hard.

What makes Ciena unique

Ciena’s September 2026 investor forum targeted 2029 margins, proving pricing power and scale.
WaveLogic 6 Extreme and 6500 platforms anchor Ciena’s coherent-optics leadership across subsea and hyperscale networks.
Navigator automation plus services lets Ciena sell integrated networks, not commoditized boxes.

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Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Company Match
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Company Paid Holidays
Paid Sick Leave
Vacation Time

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

1 year growth

2 year growth

Yahoo Finance

Oct 20th, 2026

Ciena's $48.5B AI optical boom: can it earn an S&P 500 spot?

Ciena, the optical networking equipment maker behind much of the AI data-centre build-out, is a leading contender for inclusion in the S&P 500 index. Its market cap is roughly $48.5 billion, and it is profitable under standard accounting rules. Third-quarter revenue hit a record, up about 37%, and the stock has climbed roughly 98% over the past year. Management has outlined a path to 30% growth and much higher profit by fiscal 2029. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 77, falling to roughly 40 on next year's expected profit. Bears point to cyclical hardware demand, component constraints, and little room for a stumble after such a steep run. Hedge fund ownership rose to 81 funds at the end of the second quarter of 2026, from 73 the quarter before.

Yahoo Finance

Oct 20th, 2026

Ciena stock gained 101.5% as orders outran sales, with backlog now at $8.5B

Ciena's stock returned 101.5% from October 16, 2025 to October 19, 2026, against 17.4% for the S&P 500, as cloud providers and data centres ordered more optical networking gear than the company could ship. The signs came earlier. On its December 12, 2024 call, management said orders again exceeded revenue, and backlog stood at $2.1 billion while quarterly revenue was flat at $1.12 billion. By March 2025, customers had largely worked through inventory, and revenue growth reached 29.4% in the quarter ended August 2, 2025. Backlog hit $8.5 billion in the latest quarter, and management expects more than $10 billion by fiscal year-end. Shares now trade at 74.7 times earnings, against 22.9 for the S&P 500.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Oct 19th, 2026

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CIENA Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) today announced it completed its acquisition of ONI Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ONIS) on Friday, June 21, 2002.

Ship Management International

Oct 14th, 2026

Space Norway selects Ciena to upgrade legacy Svalbard system and power new Arctic Way subsea cable.

Space Norway selects Ciena to upgrade legacy Svalbard system and power new Arctic Way subsea cable. Space Norway has awarded Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) a turnkey contract to modernise its existing Svalbard subsea cable systems and deploy state-of-the-art networking technology on the new Arctic Way system. The project extends the operational lifespan of Space Norway's subsea infrastructure while expanding secure, high-resilience connectivity to critical new locations across the Arctic. Operating in one of the world's most challenging geographic environments, Space Norway provides mission-critical communications relied upon by research, scientific, and national security organisations. Arctic Way, the world's northernmost subsea cable system - expected to commence service in 2028 - will become a critical asset for transmitting data traffic between the mainland, Jan Mayen, and Svalbard, which is one of the world's major Arctic research hubs. "Reliable connectivity is essential in the Arctic, where our infrastructure supports critical activities and demanding operational requirements," said Pia Birgitte Bruhn (pictured), Vice President of Cable Systems at Space Norway. "By working with Ciena, we are extending the operational life of our existing Svalbard cable systems while preparing Arctic Way for service. This investment will strengthen the resilience and capacity of our subsea network and support the region's long-term connectivity needs." Under the direct turnkey agreement, Ciena is providing end-to-end design, deployment, and optical technology, including the Ciena 6500 Optical Platform powered by WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) transponders and Spectrum Sharing capabilities. Ciena's Navigator Network Control Suite (Navigator NCS) will provide Space Norway with advanced network visibility, control, and operational redundancy. By standardising on Ciena's technology across both the new and legacy subsea routes, Space Norway will achieve significant operational cost efficiencies and consistent performance across its entire subsea footprint, with future terrestrial extensions planned. "Organizations delivering mission-critical connectivity in remote and harsh environments need infrastructure built for resilience and long-term durability," said Thomas Soerensen, Vice President of Global Subsea and MOFN at Ciena. "Ciena is proud to be selected by Space Norway to enable reliable and high-speed connectivity in one of the world's most strategically important and challenging Arctic environments, safeguarding communications well into the future." Space Norway says the upgraded subsea network will complement its satellite-based infrastructure, creating a diverse communications topology to meet uptime demands across the region.

TelecomTV

Oct 13th, 2026

Space Norway selects Ciena to upgrade its legacy Svalbard system and power new Arctic Way subsea cable.

Space Norway selects Ciena to upgrade its legacy Svalbard system and power new Arctic Way subsea cable. Oct 13, 2026 OSLO, Norway and FULTON, Md., U.S.A: The contract extends the operational lifespan of legacy Svalbard subsea cables while deploying state-of-the-art optical technology on the new Arctic Way system | Ciena 6500 optical platform, WaveLogic 6 Extreme, Spectrum Sharing, and Navigator Network Control Suite deliver resilient, secure connectivity across the Arctic region | Turnkey deployment strengthens critical communications for research, development, and national security in one of the world's most strategically vital environments Space Norway has awarded Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) a turnkey contract to modernize its existing Svalbard subsea cable systems and deploy state-of-the-art networking technology on the new Arctic Way system. The project extends the operational lifespan of Space Norway's subsea infrastructure while expanding secure, high-resilience connectivity to critical new locations across the Arctic. Operating in one of the world's most challenging geographic environments, Space Norway provides mission-critical communications relied upon by research, scientific, and national security organizations. Arctic Way, the world's northernmost subsea cable system - expected to commence service in 2028 - will become a critical asset for transmitting data traffic between the mainland, Jan Mayen, and Svalbard, which is one of the world's major Arctic research hubs. "Reliable connectivity is essential in the Arctic, where our infrastructure supports critical activities and demanding operational requirements," said Pia Birgitte Bruhn, acting Vice President of Cable Systems at Space Norway. "By working with Ciena, we are extending the operational life of our existing Svalbard cable systems while preparing Arctic Way for service. This investment will strengthen the resilience and capacity of our subsea network and support the region's long-term connectivity needs." Under the direct turnkey agreement, Ciena is providing end-to-end design, deployment, and optical technology, including the Ciena 6500 Optical Platform powered by WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) transponders and Spectrum Sharing capabilities. Ciena's Navigator Network Control Suite (Navigator NCS) will provide Space Norway with advanced network visibility, control, and operational redundancy. By standardizing on Ciena's technology across both the new and legacy subsea routes, Space Norway will achieve significant operational cost efficiencies and consistent performance across its entire subsea footprint, with future terrestrial extensions planned. "Organizations delivering mission-critical connectivity in remote and harsh environments need infrastructure built for resilience and long-term durability," said Thomas Soerensen, Vice President of Global Subsea and MOFN at Ciena. "Ciena is proud to be selected by Space Norway to enable reliable and high-speed connectivity in one of the world's most strategically important and challenging Arctic environments, safeguarding communications well into the future." The upgraded subsea network will complement Space Norway's satellite-based infrastructure, creating a diverse communications topology to meet uptime demands across the region. About Space Norway Space Norway is Northern Europe's leading satellite operator and a key player in the European space industry. We provide advanced and reliable satellite solutions to governments, public and defence sectors, commercial maritime, land-based industries, and major broadcasters. Our hybrid infrastructure, comprising satellites, teleports, fibre networks, and subsea cables, enables us to deliver critical connectivity services across Europe, the Arctic, Antarctic, the Middle East, and Africa. With industry-leading expertise, agility, and a commitment to excellence, we remain at the forefront of innovation. Our objective is to harness space for security and commercial growth - enriching life and expanding possibilities. Space Norway is owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries. Learn more about Space Norway by visiting spacenorway.com Connect with Space Norway on LinkedIn and YouTube. About Ciena Ciena is the global leader in high-speed connectivity. We build the world's most advanced networks to support exponential growth in bandwidth demand. By harnessing the power of our networking systems, interconnects, automation software, and services, Ciena revolutionizes data transmission and network management. With unparalleled expertise and innovation, we empower our customers, partners, and communities to thrive in the AI era. For updates on Ciena, follow us on LinkedIn or visit the Ciena website.

Ciena

Embedded Software Developer Intern

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