Waveguide based connector systems for optically coupling a fiber optic cable and an optoelectronic device and a method of fabricating the same are described. In one aspect, a connector system comprises an optical waveguide and an optical turn assembly. The optical waveguide has a first end and a second end. The first end of the optical waveguide is connectable to the fiber optic cable in an orientation aligned with a line-side connection axis. The optical turn assembly has a first optical port that is connected to the second end of the optical waveguide in an orientation aligned with a device-side connection axis, a second optical port that is oriented to communicate optically with the optoelectronic device along a device communication axis substantially intersecting the device-side connection axis, and an optical turn system that is operable to guide light along a path between the first optical port and the second optical port.