Embedded Software Engineer Intern

About the role#

This is a 4-month full-time internship starting in September 2026. You will contribute to the design, implementation, and maintenance of real-time embedded platform and application software for Ciena’s flagship products. The work spans from low-level driver development to high-level software state machines.

What you'll do#

• Design, implement, and maintain real-time embedded platform and application software.
• Develop drivers for proprietary and 3rd party ASICs, FPGAs, and other hardware components.
• Create hardware/software interfaces to bridge various abstraction layers.
• Work with fault and alarm subsystems to detect, report, and maintain defects.
• Integrate SDKs that abstract underlying low-level software and hardware to facilitate platform development.
• Analyze system logs and performance metrics to ensure system stability.

What you'll need#

• Enrollment in a bachelor’s or master's degree program in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Proficiency in C or C++.
• Understanding of real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded systems.
• Familiarity with software development tools such as git, BitBucket, Gerrit, and Jira.
• Experience with high-level programming and scripting languages including Java, Python, Perl, Tcl, or bash.
• Experience with Linux and VxWorks kernels is considered an asset.
• Familiarity with unit test frameworks and debugging tools is preferred.

Location & details#

• Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• Modality: On-site.
• Compensation: $25.00 - $34.00 per hour.
• Benefits: Includes access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), company-paid holidays, paid sick leave, and vacation pay as required by law.