Hiring for Lead Ciena 6500 Engineer

???? Location: Ashburn, Virginia (100% Onsite)
???? Contract Duration: 12+ Months
???? Candidate Preference: Local Candidates Only
???? Client: Ciena

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Lead Ciena 6500 Engineer to support large-scale Metro Network deployments within high-availability data center and cloud environments. This role requires deep expertise in the Ciena 6500 platform, Optical Line Systems (OLS), DWDM technologies, and photonic transport networks.

The ideal candidate will serve as a technical lead, providing advanced troubleshooting, deployment support, technical mentorship, and operational excellence across critical network infrastructure projects. The engineer will work closely with deployment teams, technical stakeholders, and cloud infrastructure personnel to ensure successful implementation and operation of Ciena 6500 photonic line systems.

This position demands strong hands-on experience with optical transport technologies, fiber infrastructure, testing tools, and the ability to operate independently in fast-paced, mission-critical environments.

Key Responsibilities Ciena 6500 Deployment & Support

Lead deployment, provisioning, testing, and turn-up activities for Ciena 6500 Photonic Line Systems.

Provide advanced troubleshooting and technical support for Ciena 6500 transport networks.

Configure, maintain, and optimize optical transport infrastructure.

Support metro and long-haul network deployment activities.

Participate in network upgrades, expansions, and migration projects.

Optical Network Engineering

Design, analyze, and troubleshoot DWDM and photonic transport systems.

Support Optical Line Systems (OLS) deployment and maintenance.

Analyze optical performance and identify network optimization opportunities.

Validate optical signal integrity across deployed infrastructure.

Ensure compliance with optical engineering best practices.

Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis

Troubleshoot optical issues including:

Signal loss

Power deviations

ORL (Optical Return Loss)

Reflection issues

Fiber connectivity problems

Mis-fibered circuits

Performance degradation

Perform detailed fault isolation and root cause analysis.

Recommend corrective actions and preventative measures.

Fiber & Optical Testing

Utilize optical testing equipment including:

Optical Power Meters

Visual Fault Locators (VFL)

OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer)

Interpret OTDR traces and outputs.

Perform fiber validation and acceptance testing.

Ensure proper fiber cleaning, inspection, and scoping procedures.

Maintain high standards for fiber handling and installation practices.

Technical Leadership

Serve as a technical escalation point for deployment and operations teams.

Coach and mentor engineers on Ciena 6500 technologies and troubleshooting methodologies.

Support onboarding and training of new team members.

Provide technical guidance and best practices to stakeholders.

Contribute to process improvements and operational efficiencies.

Documentation & Process Improvement

Review and interpret Signal Flow Drawings and network documentation.

Maintain deployment records, troubleshooting documentation, and technical procedures.

Identify optimization opportunities and recommend process enhancements.

Support knowledge sharing and continuous improvement initiatives.

Cloud & Automation Support

Work within cloud infrastructure deployment environments.

Utilize automation tools, workflows, and operational platforms.

Quickly adapt to new technologies and deployment methodologies.

Support integration of network operations with automated workflows and processes.

Required Skills & Qualifications Core Technical Skills

Expert-level knowledge of Ciena 6500 platform.

Strong experience with DWDM and Photonic Networks.

Deep understanding of Optical Line Systems (OLS).

Advanced troubleshooting capabilities for optical transport environments.

Strong knowledge of Metro Optical Network deployments.

Experience with photonic line system turn-up and testing.

Optical Technologies

DWDM

ROADM

Optical Line Systems (OLS)

Fiber Optic Infrastructure

Optical Power Budget Analysis

Signal Integrity Validation

Testing & Diagnostic Tools

OTDR

Optical Power Meters

Visual Fault Locator (VFL)

Fiber Scopes

Optical Testing Equipment

Networking & Documentation

Signal Flow Drawings

Network Architecture Documentation

Technical Procedures

Change Management Processes

Additional Skills

Scripting knowledge preferred.

Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.

Ability to learn and adapt to new tools and workflows quickly.

Experience working in highly structured operational environments.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience supporting hyperscale cloud environments.

Prior technical support experience focused on Ciena 6500 platforms.

Experience with network automation and workflow orchestration tools.

Exposure to large-scale data center network deployments.

Knowledge of transport network operations and maintenance.

Experience Required

7+ years of Optical Network Engineering experience.

Extensive hands-on experience with Ciena 6500 platforms.

Proven experience in DWDM, OLS, and Photonic Network deployments.

Experience leading deployment and troubleshooting activities.

Strong background in fiber optic testing and validation.

Ideal Candidate Profile

✔ Subject Matter Expert on Ciena 6500 Technologies
✔ Strong Leadership and Mentoring Skills
✔ Excellent Troubleshooting and Problem-Solving Abilities
✔ Self-Starter with Ability to Work Independently
✔ Comfortable in Fast-Paced Deployment Environments
✔ Strong Communication and Documentation Skills
✔ Able to Support Mission-Critical Network Infrastructure

Why Consider This Opportunity?

Long-term 12+ month engagement.

Opportunity to work on large-scale optical network deployments.

Exposure to cutting-edge photonic transport technologies.

High-impact role supporting mission-critical infrastructure projects.

Opportunity to lead technical initiatives and mentor engineering teams.

???? Interested candidates should share:

Updated Resume

Current Location

Work Authorization Status

Availability to Work Onsite in Ashburn, VA

Current Rate / Salary

Expected Rate / Salary

Relevant Experience with Ciena 6500, DWDM, and OLS Technologies

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