Remote Optical Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

The application window is expected to close on: 06/25/2026
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.
This role is a critical technical liaison between Cisco and its customers, specializing in the quality assurance, failure analysis, and standards compliance of coherent optical pluggable transceivers. This role demands deep expertise in coherent optical technologies, including digital coherent optics (DCO), and a thorough understanding of industry standards such as 400ZR, OpenZR+, and related optical networking protocols. The engineer will work closely with customers, product teams, and supply chain partners to ensure product reliability, optimize performance, and support Cisco's leadership in coherent pluggable optics.
Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary technical contact for customers on quality and failure analysis issues related to Cisco's coherent optical pluggable products (e.g., QSFP-DD, OSFP form factors).
• Conduct detailed failure analysis using advanced diagnostic tools focused on coherent optics, including metrics such as BER, OSNR, Q Factor, and Forward Error Correction (FEC).
• Apply deep knowledge of coherent optical standards and protocols (400ZR, OpenZR+, OpenROADM, OTN) to troubleshoot and resolve complex customer issues.
• Collaborate with product development, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to communicate customer feedback and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Support customer escalations with timely, clear, and technically accurate updates, emphasizing the unique aspects of coherent pluggable technology.
• Develop and deliver technical presentations and reports on failure trends, quality metrics, and improvement plans specific to coherent pluggable optics.
• Stay current with evolving coherent optical technologies, including Cisco's vertically integrated DSP, photonic integrated circuits, and pluggable module innovations.
• Review ORM/ORT failures and driver necessary corrective actions

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Telecommunications, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Extensive experience (7+ years) in failure analysis and quality engineering focused on coherent optical pluggable products or digital coherent optics.
• Strong understanding of coherent optical networking standards and protocols, including 400ZR, OpenZR+, OpenROADM, and OTN.
• Hands-on experience with coherent optical transceiver technologies, including QSFP-DD, OSFP, and CFP2 form factors.
• Proficiency in analyzing coherent optics performance parameters such as BER, OSNR, Q Factor, FEC, and chromatic dispersion.
• Proven ability to analyze complex failure data and develop actionable insights to improve product quality and network performance.
• Excellent customer-facing communication skills with the ability to explain complex coherent optical concepts clearly.
• Experience working with Cisco's coherent optical product portfolio and routed optical networking solutions is highly desirable.
• Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to quality improvement.

Why Cisco?
At Cisco, we're revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era - and beyond. We've been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.
Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you'll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.
We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.
Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:
The starting salary range posted for this position is $141,700.00 to $179,400.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.
Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.
U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco's plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.
U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco's policies:

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
• 1 paid day off for employee's birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
• Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
• Exempt employees participate in Cisco's flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)
• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
• Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco's policies.
Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;
• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;
• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and
• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.
The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:
New York City Metro Area:
$159,800.00 - $232,600.00
Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$141,700.00 - $206,400.00
* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco's sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.
** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.