About this role
Scaling a global optical backbone to support massive AI infrastructure requires solving complex challenges in photonic engineering, capacity planning, and multi-vendor integration. CoreWeave seeks a Senior Optical Network Engineer II to design, build, operate, and evolve the optical network underpinning the global IP backbone.
Working alongside IP Backbone Engineering and Network Architecture, the engineer handles dark fiber, DWDM system design, automation, and production operations. Ideal candidates possess deep, hands-on experience with production optical networks, understand underlying physical layer characteristics, and can independently translate dark-fiber routes into resilient operational systems.
What you will do
- Design and operate long-haul, metro, and data-center interconnect optical networks across dark-fiber infrastructure.
- Perform fiber characterization and validate new dark-fiber routes prior to production deployment.
- Troubleshoot complex optical impairments and fiber-related issues using platform telemetry and test equipment.
- Develop automation and tooling to scale the optical network without equivalent manual operational growth.
- Collaborate with IP Backbone Engineering to ensure integrated optical and IP layer design and resiliency.
- Mentor other engineers and help establish technical standards for a new optical networking team.
What you need
- Significant hands-on experience designing, deploying, and operating large-scale production optical networks.
- Strong practical experience with both Ciena and Nokia optical networking platforms.
- Extensive background in dark-fiber networks including fiber characterization, loss budgets, and OTDR testing.
- Deep understanding of DWDM and optical transmission technologies such as coherent transmission, ROADMs, and amplifiers.
- Proficiency in analyzing span loss, dispersion, OSNR, Q-factor, and other optical performance metrics.
Nice to have
- Experience with IP networking and service-provider routing platforms like Juniper or Nokia
- Programming experience with Python, REST APIs, NETCONF/YANG, gNMI, or OpenConfig for network automation
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the salary range for this role?
The base salary range is $165,000 to $220,000.
Where is the position located?
The role is located in Livingston, NJ.
What platforms will I be working with?
You will deploy, configure, operate, and troubleshoot Nokia, Ciena, and other optical platforms.