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Transmitter (Tx) SerDes Design Lead - 224G/448G

Ciena’s WaveLogic family of products enables high-speed optical transmission solutions that are foundational to modern telecommunications networks. This role contributes to the continued advancement of high-speed circuit design for broadband fiber-optic systems within a vibrant team with a proven track-record of success over 30 years of evolution in high-speed circuits for broadband fiber-optic modems — the team that pioneered the world's first high-speed DAC and ADC analog macros for coherent fiber-optic products.  

We are looking for a hands-on Transmitter (Tx) SerDes Design Lead to design and deliver our high-speed electrical transmitter macros for 224G and 448G SerDes in the latest deep-submicron CMOS technologies.  

How you will make an impact: 

• Own schematic-level design and post-layout verification of the high speed transmitter signal path and the linear chain: DAC-based output stage, high swing and high speed driver interface, including ESD and Bump. 

• Work closely with management, system designers, and lab validation teams to evolve the architecture and meet standard and product requirements 

• Evaluate circuit topologies and recommend implementations based on tradeoffs across power, area, bandwidth, and technology constraints. 

• Collaborate with layout and design engineers to deliver designs through full GDSII integration. 

• Drive extraction-based post-layout simulations and validate transmitter performance (bandwidth, linearity/RLM, return loss, jitter, and power) across process, voltage, and temperature conditions. 

• Own root-cause analysis of design- and post-layout performance gaps and implement the corrective design actions to meet specifications.   

• Maintain block- and transmitter-level performance and power tracking against the agreed targets.  

• Translate agreed architecture and system requirements into the transmitter implementation, and feed design and silicon learnings back to inform the next architecture step.  

• Build and use behavioral/design models (e.g., MATLAB, Verilog-A) to support topology tradeoffs and specification alignment.  

• Partner with lab validation teams to correlate silicon results with simulations and support test-chip, product bring-up and characterization. 

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to more junior design and layout engineers, and report status and share experience with the group on a regular basis.  

The must haves: 

• Education: M.S./PhD in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering, or applicable scientific discipline. 

• Experience: 10+ years of industrial experience designing high-speed analog, mixed-signal, or SerDes transmitter circuits in advanced CMOS technologies, including schematic design through post-layout verification. 

• Application of transmitter circuit building blocks including DAC-based output stages, serializers or multiplexers, output drivers, and clocking circuits. 

• Execution of post-layout and extraction-based simulations to validate performance across process, voltage, and temperature conditions. 

• Delivery of analog circuit designs through silicon validation. 

• Utilization of Cadence, Mentor, or Synopsys tools including Virtuoso, Calibre, STAR-RC, and MMSIM. 

• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills and ability to work independently and within a team environment. 

Nice to haves: 

• Experience: Application of 224G or 448G PAM4 or PAM6 SerDes and related OIF-CEI or IEEE standards. 

• Experience contributing to transmitter architecture using MATLAB, Verilog-A, or C++. 

• Application of signal integrity, power integrity, channel, and package co-design methodologies, including use of EM tools such as HFSS or EMX. 

• Experience mentoring engineers within analog macro design teams. 

• Experience with mixed-signal validation using high-speed measurement and probing equipment. 

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.

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