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 the development of next-generation AI-enabled applications that transform network management and optimization?
We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Senior Software Development Manager to drive the development and delivery of intelligent, AI-powered applications for network management and optimization. As a leader in our team, you will have a key role in shaping the future of network automation and intelligence, while fostering a high-performance engineering culture that embraces AI transformation.
How You Will Contribute
· Lead and mentor a team of software developers focused on delivering innovative AI-enabled applications for network management and optimization
· Recruit, grow, and retain top-tier development talent, building a collaborative and innovative team culture
· Drive feature planning and execution, ensuring the timely delivery of intelligent, reliable, and scalable solutions
· Champion AI transformation within the engineering organization by evaluating, adopting, and scaling AI technologies and practices that improve development velocity, code quality, and product innovation
· Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams across multiple geographical locations, including product managers, data scientists, UX designers, and platform engineers
· Drive engineering best practices including modular design, performance optimization, and automated testing
What You'll Bring (Must-Haves)
· Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or equivalent
· 8+ years of software development experience with strong technical acumen
· 2-3 years of engineering leadership experience managing direct reports
· Proven ability to deliver complex software solutions in an Agile environment
· Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills, with a focus on team growth and delivery excellence
· Excellent communication and collaboration skills, particularly in distributed team environments
· Comfortable navigating ambiguity and leading through change in a fast-paced environment
· Ability to work from our Ottawa office 1-2 days per week
Nice to Have (Preferred)
· Experience with AI/ML technologies and their application in production systems
· Track record of leading AI transformation initiatives within engineering organizations
· Experience in network management systems, software-defined networking (SDN), or network automation platforms
· Familiarity with modern cloud-native platforms, microservices architecture, and Kubernetes
· Background in data-driven decision making and analytics
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.
Top Skills
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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