Senior Technical Lead - Optical Engineering (Testing)

Job ID- 36341

Job Location- Bangalore

Function-- Chief Operations Office (COO) 

Job Level- PT1 Advacne/S2 Core/S2 Advance

Why we need this role

The Colt Optical Engineering team is seeking an experienced Optical Engineering Subject Matter Expert to lead the design, testing, and operationalization of advanced optical network solutions. This role requires deep expertise in optical technologies, strong hands-on experience with industry‑leading vendor platforms, and the ability to drive initiatives addressing Operational need related to Optical SDN, network automation, and new technology testing and introduction.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in shaping Colt’s optical network evolution, working closely with internal stakeholders i.e. operation, delivery, Product, customers, and vendors to ensure high performance, reliability, and scalability.

What you will do

• Drive new technology introduction initiatives, including requirements definition, lab testing, field trials, and production deployment.
• Own optical product verification and validation, including feature qualification, interoperability testing, and performance benchmarking.
• Lead as a technical authority for optical network operations, supporting complex troubleshooting and service assurance activities.
• Design, implement, and optimize large-scale optical network solutions using platforms from Ciena, Nokia, Infinera, and Adtran.
• Lead optical platform validation, Optical SDN integration, and end-to-end system interoperability to enable advanced network automation.
• Lead customer and stakeholder engagements, ensuring delivery excellence, service quality, process enhancement and operational maturity.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (architecture, operations, IT, vendors, and program management) to deliver integrated optical solutions.
• Develop and maintain high-quality technical documentation, test strategies, validation reports, and operational guidelines.

What we're looking for

• Deep expertise in optical transmission technologies and carrier‑grade network architectures, including long‑haul and metro optical systems.
• Extensive hands-on experience with Ciena, Nokia and Adtran optical platforms; working knowledge of Infinera and Huawei solutions is highly desirable.
• Knowledge in Optical SDN, controller-driven architectures, API (REST/TAPI/Netconf etc) and network automation frameworks supporting scalable operations.
• Demonstrated experience integrating optical networks with Data Communication Networks (DCN), RADIUS authentication, and adjacent IT and security systems.
• Proven leadership in delivering complex, technology-driven initiatives, particularly end‑to‑end new technology introductions from concept to deployment.
• Solid background in optical product qualification and validation, including feature certification, interoperability testing, and performance assessment in live networks.
• Ability to effectively manage senior stakeholders and customers, ensuring operational stability, service assurance, and continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, combined with clear communication and disciplined project execution.
• Highly self-driven individual with a track record of technology exploration, execution planning, stakeholder alignment, and outcome-oriented delivery.
• Sound commercial acumen, including vendor evaluation, cost optimization, and return-on-investment considerations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Telecommunications, Electronics, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Industry-recognized certifications in optical networking or SDN (e.g., Ciena Certified Engineer, Nokia Optical Network Certification).
• Familiarity with network management models, interfaces, and protocols such as TAPI, NETCONF/RESTCONF, OpenFlow, and related APIs.