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.
Are you ready to shape the future of autonomous networking and artificial intelligence?
Ciena is seeking a Generative AI Prompt Engineer to work at the cutting edge of advanced networking and generative AI technologies. In this unique role, you’ll design intelligent prompts and reasoning frameworks that empower AI agents to troubleshoot complex networking challenges with the expertise of seasoned engineers. Join us to redefine how networks are managed and optimized using the latest advancements in AI.
How You Will Contribute:
Design and refine a library of prompts and workflows for network troubleshooting, including fault isolation, alarm correlation, and performance analysis.
Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to translate expert troubleshooting methodologies into structured, machine-readable instructions.
Build reasoning loops for AI agents that mimic iterative diagnostic processes, enabling hypothesis generation, command execution, and decision-making.
Develop prompts leveraging Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) techniques to query and reason over Ciena’s extensive knowledge base.
Analyze agent performance using KPIs like diagnostic accuracy, resolution time, and response clarity, iterating to improve AI reasoning and collaboration.
Stay ahead of the curve by researching the latest prompt engineering techniques and AI architectures.
The Must Haves:
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Network Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
5+ years in a technical networking role such as NOC Engineer, Technical Support Engineer, or Network Architect.
Deep understanding of networking fundamentals, including TCP/IP, Ethernet, and protocols like SNMP and gNMI/gRPC.
Expertise in either Optical Networking (DWDM, OTN, coherent optics) or Packet Networking (BGP, MPLS, Segment Routing).
1+ years of hands-on experience with Large Language Models (LLMs) and a passion for generative AI.
Proven skills in prompt engineering, including few-shot/zero-shot prompting and context structuring.
Basic proficiency in Python for testing and automation tasks.
The Assets:
Direct experience troubleshooting Ciena’s hardware or software portfolio (e.g., 6500 Family, Waveserver, Blue Planet).
Knowledge of agentic reasoning architectures like ReAct (Reason+Act) and planning models like MCP (Model-Capabilities-Plan).
Experience with multi-agent systems (MAS) and communication protocols like Google’s Agent-to-Agent (A2A) framework.
Familiarity with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems and AI/ML frameworks like LangChain or LlamaIndex.
Hands-on experience with conversational AI agents, chatbots, or virtual assistants.
Master’s degree in a relevant technical field.
Pay Range:
Canada: $81,600.00 - $130,400.00 CDN
USA:$91,000 - $145,400.00 USD
#LI-JD
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.
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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.
