Test Automation Engineer - New Grad

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.

Join a team focused on delivering high-quality networking solutions that power carrier-grade and enterprise environments. This role contributes to product reliability, performance, and release readiness through automated testing and continuous quality improvement. Collaboration across software, systems, and product teams helps accelerate delivery of next-generation networking technologies. This is a New Grad, onsite role, 5-days a week in Petaluma, CA.

How you will make an impact:

• Design, develop, execute, and maintain automated test cases and test suites for software features, system functionality, and customer use cases.
• Develop and enhance automation frameworks to improve test coverage, scalability, efficiency, and maintainability.
• Create and execute functional, integration, system, regression, and solution-level test plans to validate product capabilities and software releases.
• Analyze test results, identify defects, perform root-cause analysis, and collaborate with development teams to resolve issues.
• Participate in design reviews, requirements reviews, and test planning activities to incorporate quality throughout the development lifecycle.
• Integrate automated test suites into Jenkins pipelines to advance continuous integration and continuous testing initiatives.
• Build and maintain test environments, configure test topologies, validate networking solutions, and contribute to continuous improvement of testing methodologies and product quality.

The must haves:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience: 1+ years of experience in software quality assurance, test automation, software development, or related engineering roles.
• Experience developing automated test solutions using Python or other object-oriented programming languages.
• Experience creating, executing, and maintaining automated test cases and regression test suites.
• Experience working in Linux-based development and test environments.
• Understanding of software development lifecycles, quality assurance methodologies, and defect management processes.
• Experience using version control and development tools such as Git, Bitbucket, and JIRA.

Nice to haves:

• Experience with Passive Optical Network (PON) technologies, including GPON and XGS-PON.
• Application of Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and Optical Network Unit (ONU/ONT) architectures, operation, and deployment scenarios.
• Knowledge of PON-related standards and protocols, including ITU-T specifications and OMCI.
• Knowledge of networking fundamentals including Ethernet, TCP/IP, IPv4, IPv6, routing, and switching protocols.
• Experience with traffic generation and network test tools such as Ixia, Spirent, Xena, or equivalent platforms.
• Experience troubleshooting and analyzing packet captures, protocol traces, and system logs to identify root causes of networking and service issues.
• Experience working with test management and collaboration tools such as TestRail and Confluence.

Pay Range: The salary range for this role in Petaluma is $80, 700 - $128, 900

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.

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.