Optical Coherent System Engineer

Nokia is hiring an Optical Coherent System Engineer. Level rates it ; you can apply on Nokia.

Level's read on this job

On Level's scale, this role is Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
Tools and skills the posting cites include Dsp Hardware, Pic Hardware and Rf Test Equipment.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 582 other open roles at Nokia.
The role was posted in the last few days.

AI in this role

Design, develop, and characterize next-generation coherent optical transceivers, integrating PIC, DSP, and analog ASIC hardware.

Dsp HardwarePic HardwareRf Test Equipment

optical-communicationsphotonicssignal-processingrf-engineering

Nokia is seeking a Coherent Optical Systems Engineer to join our Optical Systems Group (OSG). The engineer will be responsible for contributing to the design, characterization, and development of leading coherent optical transceivers based on Infinera's next-generation coherent photonic integrated circuit (PIC) and digital signal processor (DSP) technologies. The ideal candidate should be prepared to work with early prototype PIC, DSP, and analog ASIC hardware; to perform digital-optical integration, develop robust calibration and controls methodologies, and carry out performance characterization. Performance characterization will include transceiver SNR, OSNR tolerance, sensitivity studies, etc. OSG works closely with many parts of the company and the candidate should anticipate frequent interactions with the DSP, PIC, analog ASIC, and systems engineering teams. A key component of this role is the ability to understand and make tradeoffs between optical, electrical, and digital capabilities, in order to optimize the overall system performance.

Digital-optical integration of next-generation coherent optical transceivers
Development of calibration and controls algorithms to maximize system level performance
Performance characterization of coherent pluggable transceivers, which will include detailed experimental validation of the constituent sub-components that comprise the pluggable, such as the analog, controls, and DSP ASICs
Active member of the cross-functional product development team involving software, electronics, optics, and test

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or Applied Physics with experience in optical communications, photonics, high-speed electronics or systems
New Ph.D. graduates, as well as experienced professionals, are encouraged to apply.
Fundamental understanding of optical communication systems, DWDM transmission systems, fiber transmission penalties, photonic integrated components, electronic (integrated) circuits, and signal analysis and processing
Hands-on experience working with system-level optical communication hardware and components
Extensive understanding of coherent communications systems, including experience with QPSK, 16QAM, and 64QAM, as well as coding and forward error correction algorithms
Experience characterizing high-speed RF and mm-wave interconnects, amplifiers, and components
Characterization of RF/mm-wave systems, such as S parameter measurements, jitter measurements, ADC/DAC performance and ENOB
Hands-on experience with high-speed optical and electrical tests, measurement equipment control, and data acquisition
Programming experience in Matlab, Python, VB.net, or C desired

How we rate this

Optical Coherent System Engineer at Nokia rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Optical Coherent System Engineer is an open job at Nokia.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The role is based in United States.
The job was posted on November 12, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
Applications are handled by Nokia. Apply on Nokia

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Optical CommunicationsPhotonicsSignal ProcessingRf EngineeringDsp HardwarePic HardwareRf Test Equipment

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where optical communications was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where photonics was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where signal processing was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where rf engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
Walk me through how you've used Dsp Hardware in your day-to-day work.

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Optical Communications, Photonics, Signal Processing, Rf Engineering, and Dsp Hardware. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.

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