Ciena

Software Developer Intern - Winter 2027

In short

Software Developer Intern/Co-op at Ciena, Ottawa, for an 8-12 month work term starting Winter 2027, on an embedded software team working on flagship networking products. The role involves coding assignments, writing and running tests, Agile collaboration, code reviews, debugging, and working with real-time embedded systems. Requires active enrollment in an Engineering or Computer Science degree program and foundational coding knowledge; exposure to C/C++/Python/Bash/Java, git-based tools, unit test frameworks, and AI-assisted development tools is a plus.

The Opportunity
Work term of 8-12 months starting in Winter 2027. At Ciena, we are the global leader in high-speed connectivity, building the world's most adaptive networks to empower customers, partners, and communities to thrive in the AI era. This co-op/intern opportunity provides hands-on experience contributing to real-world engineering challenges within an embedded software team. The role offers exposure to the development and testing of software that powers flagship networking products while learning from experienced engineering professionals.
How you will make an impact
•Contribute to coding assignments that enhance embedded platform and application software
•Create and execute tests to validate new capabilities
•Collaborate with team members following Agile development practices
•Participate in code reviews and apply feedback to improve software quality
•Troubleshoot and resolve software issues
•Learn and apply modern development workflows and tools
•Gain hands-on experience with real-time embedded systems
The must haves
•Education: Actively enrolled in a degree program in Engineering or Computer Science
•Foundational knowledge of coding concepts and programming structures
•Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
•Curiosity and willingness to learn new technologies and tools
•Embrace AI tools and technologies at every step of the software design lifecycle
Nice to haves
•Exposure to programming or scripting languages such as C, C++, Python, Bash, or Java
•Familiarity with development tools including git, Bitbucket, Gerrit, or Jira
•Experience with unit test frameworks such as Google Test, JUnit, Robot, or PyTest
•Experience with using AI, GitHub Copilot, test case generation, and designing and implementing AI agents and workflows
•Understanding of debugging tools such as gdb
•Interest in learning more about real-time and embedded software environments and automated testing
Pay Range
The hourly pay range is $25.50 to $35.00.
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.
In addition to competitive compensation, Ciena offers students access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), company-paid holidays, paid sick leave, and vacation pay as required by applicable laws.

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