Full-Time
Routing/IP Software Engineer
Dataplane
Posted on 4/4/2026
Ciena
10,001+ employees
Delivers adaptive optical networking services
Compensation Overview
CA$99.2k - CA$158.4k/yr
Ottawa, ON, Canada
In Person
 Software Engineering (1) |
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- Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
- 5-10 years work experience in an embedded software development role (depending on level).
- Demonstrated proficiency in C programming language.
- Experience using Linux as a development platform and/or embedded operating system, preferably on x86/ARM target processors.
- Familiarity with L2/L3 forwarding plane such as switching/routing, QoS (shaping, scheduling, metering), link aggregation, protection schemes, Ethernet Operations and Maintenance, and IP/MPLS.
- Development experience with Netconf/Yang, Data Path protection architectures or hardware resource management.
- Design and code and support software drivers, APIs and/or data plane applications written in C and running in a real-time embedded Linux environment to support advanced Layer 2/3 services on customized delivery platforms.
- Work on a microservices software architecture employing Docker containers and virtualization technologies to offer disaggregated solutions to leading global service providers.
- Design and implement embedded software running under Linux on carrier-grade L2/L3 service delivery and aggregation platforms, including development of new features, enhancements to existing features and support for new hardware platforms.
- Provisioning of the forwarding plane and managing various forwarding plane resources of varying capabilities; forwarding plane functionality includes IP/MPLS, L3VPN, EVPN, and L2 Ethernet applications on various devices.
- Collaborate with architects, designers, QA, and product owners in requirements analysis, functional specification, design, coding, integration, verification, and support.
- Active participation in the Agile Scrum team to complete assigned stories in prescribed sprints.
- Exposure to Broadcom Ethernet Switching chipsets.
- Design experience with L3VPN, EVPN, and segment routing
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
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- $7B AI backlog from hyperscalers drives 33% Q1 FY2026 revenue growth to $1.43B.
- Stifel raises price target to $430 post-OFC 2026 AI-networking showcase.
- FTSE All-World Index inclusion boosts liquidity for backlog execution.
What critics are saying
- Hyperscalers like Meta cut orders, cratering $7B backlog in 18-24 months.
- 305x P/E overvaluation triggers $20B market cap wipeout in 12-18 months.
- Lumentum steals AI share, outperforming with 958% 52-week gains.
What makes Ciena unique
- WaveLogic 6 Extreme deploys 1.6 Tb/s optics in Vodafone Idea India networks.
- Quantum-secure 1.6 Tb/s networking demos with Quantum Computing Inc. at OFC 2026.
- Hollow core fiber testing cuts latency 33% for AI data center interconnects.
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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
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 0%2 year growth
↑ 0%Ciena is partnering with Vodafone Idea to deploy its WaveLogic 6 Extreme platform across India's largest carrier transport networks, introducing the country's first 1.6 Tb/s coherent optical technology supporting services up to 800G. The deployment aims to modernise Vodafone Idea's network for hyperscalers and enterprise customers. Ciena's share price stands at $494.01, representing a 100.8% year-to-date gain and 18.9% weekly increase. However, the stock trades 45% above the $340.94 analyst price target and 411.7% above estimated fair value. The company's price-to-earnings ratio sits at approximately 305, significantly higher than the communications industry average of 41. Analysts have flagged concerns about valuation stretch and one-off items affecting earnings quality, despite strong recent momentum in the optical networking sector.
Ciena Corporation has received a raised price target from Stifel analyst Ruben Roy, who increased it from $320 to $430 whilst maintaining a Buy rating. The upgrade followed the analyst's attendance at the company's investor breakfast and meetings with management at OFC 2026. Stifel highlighted Ciena's AI-networking and optical-technology portfolio, including higher-capacity optics, AI-driven network management and data-centre interconnect solutions. During its fiscal Q1 2026, Ciena delivered 33.09% year-over-year revenue growth to $1.43 billion, beating Wall Street expectations by $28.88 million. EPS of $1.35 exceeded forecasts by $0.18. The company manufactures networking hardware and software for telecommunications and network operators, helping them increase capacity and automate operations.
Ciena, a network technology company, has seen its share price surge 66% over the past three months and 57% year to date, pushing its market capitalisation to $51.6 billion. The stock recently closed at $388.23, despite a 9.58% pullback over seven days. With annual revenue of $5.1 billion and net income of $229 million, Ciena now trades well above analyst consensus price targets of $120.40. The most followed valuation narrative places fair value at approximately $237 per share, suggesting the stock may be overvalued by 64%. The company's price-to-sales ratio of 10.7x sits below the peer average of 12.7x but above a fair ratio of 6.2x. Analysts highlight risks including potential customer order cuts and margin pressure from emerging networking technologies.
Vodafone Idea eyes optical transport prospects. Vodafone Idea turned its attention to its optical transport network a day after detailing a 5G expansion, tapping Ciena to provide technology enabling terabit data rates as it targets AI workload opportunities. The vendor explained its WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) coherent optical technology will enable Vodafone Idea to meet growing demand for bandwidth-intensive services. Vodafone Idea CTO Jagbir Singh identified AI workloads as the reason the operator is upgrading its transport network capabilities. He said it would establish a foundation to target "growth opportunities through enterprise, mobility" and data centres. Ciena asserts its WL6e is the "industry's first 1.6Tb/s coherent optical technology", a rate the operator hit when connecting two sites in its meshed Data Centre Interconnect network using a single optical channel. The technology provides all operators a means to maximise fibre capacity, Ciena explained. Amit Malik, VP and GM for Asia Pacific, Japan and India, said the rates on offer means Vodafone Idea should be comfortably able to provide 800G services consistently, and be ready to meet future traffic growth and connectivity demands.
Ciena Corporation's shares rose 16% following its addition to the FTSE All-World Index and a demonstration of quantum-secure optical networking technology at OFC 2026. The company partnered with Quantum Computing Inc. to showcase 1.6 Tb/s AES-256-GCM encryption with post-quantum algorithm support and QKD interoperability. The index inclusion may boost liquidity and visibility, whilst the quantum-security demonstration reinforces Ciena's positioning in AI and cloud data centre infrastructure. However, analysts note customer concentration remains a key risk, particularly if major hyperscalers reduce spending or adopt alternative architectures. Ciena's narrative projects $6.5 billion revenue and $590.5 million earnings by 2028, requiring 12.5% annual revenue growth. Some fair value estimates suggest the stock may be worth significantly less than its current price despite the optimistic outlook.