Staff Optical Engineer
Nokia · Posted Oct 28
Mobile and fixed network infrastructure, IP routing, cloud, and telecommunications technology services
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About the role
Nokia is seeking an Optical HW Engineer to contribute to the design and development of optical coherent transceiver plug/transponder line cards, including integration and optical design verification test (oDVT). The role owns optical design and integration at system and product level, covering optical architecture, verification, manufacturing handoff, and technical authority for optical design and DVT. The engineer will translate product requirements into optical architecture, design rules, and oDVT coverage, and lead closure of performance gaps across optics, DSP, firmware, and card teams.
What you will do
- Own optical design architecture for coherent transceivers and transponder line cards: optical path, component/module strategy, schematic/design rules for optics, and approval of design updates.
- Lead design reviews of schematic, layout, mechanical fiber, thermal, and SI as they affect optical performance; approve optical design for the product.
- Decide tradeoffs among PIC, analog ASIC, DSP, pluggable vs embedded, and line-card optics; negotiate with architecture, ASIC, and PIC teams.
- Set oDVT scope, pass/fail criteria, and coverage vs product requirements, impairments, environment, and MSA/reference (OIF, OpenZR+, OpenROADM, ITU-T as applicable).
- Integrate optical modules into coherent transceivers and transponder line cards, ensuring optical performance.
- Compare results to spec and MSA/reference; drive closure with DSP, PIC, analog, FW, and hardware.
- Translate oDVT findings into design changes (BOM, schematic, firmware defaults, mechanical fiber routing).
- Apply DFx (test, manufacture, reliability, compliance) in the optical design; not added after oDVT, and not only a lab prototype.
- Define calibration architecture and the manufacturing optical test strategy (yield, test time, DVT-to-production correlation).
- Approve test plans, procedures, and release reports; sign optical design and oDVT for the product.
- Own the optical validation automation strategy (Python/framework, data quality); not only individual script fixes.
- Create and approve technical documentation (architecture, design rules, test plans, procedures, reports).
- Lead cross-functional (XF) work on optical performance; represent optical design, integration, and oDVT for the product.
Skills used in this role
What the employer is looking for
- Bachelor's or Master's in Optical Engineering, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field (Ph.D. a plus).
- Must have worked on optical line cards/systems.
- Must have at least 8+ years of proven experience in optical design, integration, and testing of coherent transceivers/transponders, including ownership of optical transceiver design and optical DVT through product release.
- Deep coherent transmission: QAM, FEC/DSP basics, DWDM impairments (OSNR, CD, PMD, SPM/XPM/FWM, crosstalk) and spec tradeoffs.
- Familiarity with optical characterization equipment and measurement techniques.
- Ability to define and approve design/test plans, troubleshoot complex optical systems, and communicate results clearly.
- Hands-on expertise with optical characterization equipment and measurement techniques.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex optical systems.
- Excellent communication skills.
Benefits and support
- Compensation and benefits are detailed in the job posting
About Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a multinational telecommunications, information technology, and network equipment provider that delivers critical infrastructure solutions across mobile, fixed, and cloud networks. Known for its historical roots and ongoing global presence in connectivity, the company enables advanced network automation, AI-optimized data center infrastructure, and 5G/6G technology for communications service providers and enterprises worldwide.
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Company size
- 78005 employees
- Founded
- 1865-05-12
- Location
- Espoo, Finland
- Funding stage
- Public Company
Leadership
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Technology and AI Officer
President of Network Infrastructure
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