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 embedded software on the fastest growing Ciena product?
We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Senior Software Development Manager to drive the development and delivery of cutting-edge optical software on the Reconfigurable Line System (RLS) product.
As a key leader in the RLS Software team, you will have the opportunity to work with other software and system team members to shape the next generation of scalable optical products. We are on the leading edge of this incredible AI growth together with Cloud and Service providers.
Key Responsibilities:
Team Leadership and Development:
- Lead, mentor, and manage a team of software designers responsible for developing embedded software and drivers that interface with photonic hardware.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence within the team.
- Provide technical guidance and career development opportunities for team members.
Software Development and Delivery:
- Oversee the design, development, testing, and delivery of embedded software for RLS Interface Management Modules.
- Ensure software and drivers meet high standards for quality, reliability, and performance.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define software requirements and ensure alignment with product goals.
Factory Collaboration:
- Work closely with factory teams to ensure new modules can be properly tested and calibrated.
- Develop processes and tools to streamline testing and calibration workflows.
Vendor Management:
- Serve as the primary interface with third-party vendors to ensure software requirements are clearly communicated, schedules are maintained, and deliverables are met.
- Monitor vendor progress, ensuring timely resolution of software defects and thorough testing of fixes.
Cross-Team Collaboration:
- Coordinate with peer teams located in different time zones to ensure smooth integration of software components.
- Act as a key liaison between software engineering, hardware engineering, and other functional teams to drive project success.
Continuous Improvement:
- Identify opportunities to improve development processes, tools, and methodologies.
- Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies, particularly in photonics and layer 0 systems.
The Must Haves:
- At least 5 years of experience managing a team of software designers in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
- Experience managing schedules and technical deliverables of third party vendors.
- Global Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with peer teams located in different time zones.
- Vendor Management: Strong experience managing third-party vendors, including defining requirements, monitoring schedules, and resolving issues.
- Technical Expertise:
- Solid understanding of embedded software development and drivers for hardware interfaces.
- Experience with embedded software development, card and module bring up, Linux/VxWorks and RTOS device drivers, HAL, alarming, control and management software.
- Knowledge of photonic technologies and layer 0 systems is highly desirable.
- Familiarity with testing and calibration processes for hardware/software integration.
Nice to Haves:
- Advanced degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience working in the optical networking or telecommunications industry.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make data-driven decisions.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Pay Range:
The salary range for this role is $139, 400 - $222, 600
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.
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.
Skills Required
- At least 5 years managing a team of software designers
- Experience managing schedules and technical deliverables of third-party vendors
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively with global peer teams across time zones
- Solid understanding of embedded software development and drivers for hardware interfaces
- Experience with embedded software development, card and module bring up, Linux/VxWorks and RTOS device drivers, HAL, alarming, control and management software
- Familiarity with testing and calibration processes for hardware/software integration
- Knowledge of photonic technologies and layer 0 systems
- Advanced degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- Experience in optical networking or telecommunications industry
- Strong problem-solving and communication skills
Ciena Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Ciena and has not been reviewed or approved by Ciena.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is often characterized as competitive or above-market in certain roles and regions, with references to market-aligned salary ranges and transparency around pay bands.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is frequently framed as comprehensive, including medical, dental, and vision, with indications that coverage can extend to dependents and is viewed as a meaningful component of total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off offerings are described as flexible and generous, including Flex/uncapped PTO in many cases and additional paid time for volunteering.
Ciena Insights
What We Do
Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) is a global leader in networking systems, services, and software. We build the world’s most adaptive networks to enable our customers to deliver richer, more connected experiences for all users. At our core, Ciena is a company rooted in people. We prioritize deep, collaborative relationships within our teams and alongside our customers, partners, and communities around the world. For three-plus decades, we’ve brought our humanity to our relentless pursuit of innovation. We continue to lead the evolution of networking with a strong track record of industry firsts. As end-user expectations skyrocket, our customers and their networks must transform. Ciena powers this transformation by driving next-generation solutions built for maximum openness and agility—today and into the future. Corporate/Brand Values: • Customer First • Integrity • Velocity • Innovation • Outstanding People We're the perfect size for you to make an impact. W Only Ciena has the depth of expertise and the culture of collaboration and partnership required to help our partners evolve. We do this by strategically integrating hardware, services, and software in an open environment to ensure our clients’ networks are ‘fit for flexibility’ today and into the f
Why Work With Us
We are known for our industry-firsts, including the first coherent optical solution, converged packet-optical platform, and intelligence automation platform. Our commitment extends beyond innovation, logging in over 35,000 volunteer hours and $2 million to worthy causes in 2023. We're the perfect size and culture for you to make a difference.
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