As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena is committed to a people-first approach. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a flexible work environment that empowers individual growth, well-being, and belonging. We’re a technology company that leads with our humanity—driving our business priorities alongside meaningful social, community, and societal impact.
Are you ready to lead, inspire, and mentor a talented team of software developers while driving innovation in network management?
We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Senior Software Development Manager to guide the development and delivery of network management applications that support Ciena’s cutting-edge optical and routing platforms. As a key leader in the Navigator Intelligent Apps team, you will have the opportunity to shape the next generation of network automation, visibility, and control tools, while fostering a high-performance engineering culture.
How You Will Contribute
- Lead and mentor a talented team of software engineers focused on building intuitive, scalable, and reliable network management applications.
- Recruit, develop, and retain top engineering talent, nurturing a collaborative and growth-oriented team environment.
- Drive feature planning and execution, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality software that meets product and customer requirements.
- Champion software engineering best practices including AI4Eng techniques, automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and Agile development methodologies.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with solution architects, QA, UX, and product teams to ensure cohesive and integrated solutions.
- Guide the team through the entire software development lifecycle, from product definition and design to deployment, support, and ongoing enhancements.
- Represent the team in cross-functional project meetings, providing updates on progress, risks, and resource needs.
What You'll Bring (Must-Haves)
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or equivalent.
- 10+ years of software development experience, with a focus on networking, cloud applications, or large-scale distributed systems.
- 3+ years of engineering leadership experience, managing teams delivering enterprise-grade applications or platforms.
- Proven ability to deliver complex software solutions in an Agile, customer-focused environment.
- Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills, with a focus on team growth and delivery excellence.
- Experience guiding products through the full software lifecycle, including planning, release, and support.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and leading through change in a fast-paced environment.
Nice to Have (Preferred)
- Experience in network management systems (NMS), software-defined networking (SDN), or network automation platforms.
- Proven experience in successfully implementing AI4Eng tools and practices to enhance developer productivity, code quality, and software delivery efficiency.
- Familiarity with modern web application stacks, microservices, Kubernetes, REST APIs, and cloud-native architectures.
- Background in user experience (UX) principles for network operations interfaces.
Pay ranges at Ciena are designed to accommodate variations in knowledge, skills, experience, market conditions, and locations, reflecting our diverse products, industries, and lines of business. Please note that the pay range information provided in this posting pertains specifically to the primary location, which is the top location listed in case multiple locations are available.
Non-Sales employees may be eligible for a discretionary incentive bonus, while Sales employees may be eligible for a sales commission. In addition to competitive compensation, Ciena offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, participation in 401(K) (USA) & DCPP (Canada) with company matching, Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), company-paid holidays, paid sick leave, and vacation time. We also comply with all applicable laws regarding Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence.
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At Ciena, we are committed to building and fostering an environment in which our employees feel respected, valued, and heard. Ciena values the diversity of its workforce and respects its employees as individuals. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination.
Ciena is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
If contacted in relation to a job opportunity, please advise Ciena of any accommodation measures you may require.
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