Ciena

R&D AI Platform Engineer / Administrator

Ciena$93K — $150K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3+ years of experience with on-premises AI/ML platform development and administration
  • Proficiency in Kubernetes, Docker, and Linux, ideally with Oracle Linux exposure
  • Experience with LLM serving frameworks like SGLang, orchestrators like LiteLLM, and vector databases such as Milvus
  • Familiarity with observability tools for AI workflows, including Langfuse or Prometheus/Grafana
  • Knowledge of network security, container security, and data privacy practices in enterprise settings
  • Ability to translate technical constraints into business outcomes

Responsibilities

  • Design and deploy on-premises AI infrastructure leveraging Kubernetes and Docker
  • Implement and manage model serving solutions to optimize inference performance
  • Configure and maintain various components of the AI application stack
  • Ensure compliance with enterprise security policies to protect IP
  • Collaborate with AI architects and product teams to define platform requirements
  • Provide documentation and guidance for internal users on AI platform services

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
  • 401(K) & DCPP participation with company matching
  • Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Paid holidays, sick leave, and vacation time
  • Compliance with laws on Paid Family Leave and other leave options
Full Job Description
Ciena is a global leader in high-speed connectivity, enabling innovation across optical networks, routing and switching, and network control systems. This role contributes to the "AI for Engineering" vision by advancing secure, on-premises AI capabilities for product development. The position plays a critical role in establishing and scaling an internal AI platform that supports innovation across Global R&D.

How you will make an impact:
  • Design and deploy on-premises AI infrastructure using Kubernetes and Docker to host open-source and open-weight models
  • Implement and manage model serving solutions including SGLang to optimize inference performance on shared infrastructure
  • Configure and maintain AI application stack components including LiteLLM, Open WebUI, Milvus, and Langfuse
  • Ensure adherence to enterprise security policies to protect intellectual property and maintain compliance with R&D governance standards
  • Collaborate with AI architects and product teams to identify requirements and deliver scalable platform capabilities
  • Deliver documentation and guidance to enable internal users to effectively utilize AI platform services

The must haves:
  • Experience: 3+ years of experience developing and administering on-premises AI/ML platforms
  • Utilization of Kubernetes, Docker, and Linux environments (Oracle Linux exposure noted)
  • Application of LLM serving frameworks such as SGLang or vLLM, orchestration layers including LiteLLM, and vector databases such as Milvus
  • Implementation of observability solutions for AI workflows including Langfuse or Prometheus/Grafana
  • Application of network security, container security, and data privacy practices in enterprise environments
  • Ability to translate technical constraints into business-aligned outcomes for stakeholders

Nice to haves:
  • Experience: Application of Atlassian tools including Agile Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket for project tracking and code management
  • Application of private cloud architectures, including OpenStack-based environments
  • Experience: Support of design workstations or CI/CD pipeline environments
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or Math/Stats

#LI-BS1

Pay Range:

The annual pay range for this position is C$93,900 - C$150,100.

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.

About Ciena

Ciena Corporation is a global supplier of telecommunications networking equipment, software, and services. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Hanover, Maryland. Ciena's products include optical transport and switching systems, software, and services that support the transport, switching, aggregation, and management of voice, video, and data traffic. Ciena serves customers in the telecommunications industry, including telecommunications service providers, cable operators, governments, and enterprises. The company has approximately 7,000 employees worldwide and operates in more than 100 countries.
Learn more about Ciena
Size
7,241 employees
Market Cap
$7.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
$354.3 million
Founded
1992
5 Year Trend
+5.3%
Revenue
$3.4 billion
NASDAQ

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