Director, Product Line Management – Waveserver PLM Team

Ciena Corporation; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 166,000 - 265,000; Full time

Job summary

Ciena Corporation is seeking a Director of Product Line Management for the Waveserver portfolio to shape product strategy, roadmap execution, and lifecycle management across high-capacity optical transport solutions. You will translate market and customer needs into clear requirements, lead cross-functional teams across engineering, marketing, supply chain, and sales, and build compelling business cases.

The role requires 10+ years in the industry, 5+ years in PLM, and a track record of

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical engineering, telecommunications, networking, or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years of relevant industry experience, including at least 5+ years of product line management.
• Experience applying coherent optical systems, DWDM, OTN, Ethernet services, and network management concepts.
• Experience leading new product introductions, developing business cases, and growing product revenue.
• Experience aligning cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders.
• Experience with pricing, forecasting, margin management, and competitive analysis.
• Experience communicating with executive audiences and customers, and traveling as needed.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive Waveserver product strategy, roadmap direction, and investment priorities aligned to portfolio growth.
• Translate customer, sales, and market requirements into product requirements, release priorities, and lifecycle plans.
• Lead cross-functional alignment across engineering, marketing, supply chain, procurement, services, and sales throughout the product lifecycle.
• Drive customer engagements, roadmap discussions, RFP/RFQ responses, offer defense activities, and product trials.
• Develop business cases for features, hardware, software releases, pricing strategies, cost optimization initiatives, and investment decisions.
• Manage product line performance through revenue planning, volume forecasting, margin improvement, competitive positioning, and lifecycle profitability.
• Monitor market developments across optical networking, coherent technologies, DCI, hyperscale networking, encryption, automation, open APIs, fiber sensing, and high-capacity aggregation applications.

Skills

Product lifecycle management

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or related field

Job description

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. Ciena’s Waveserver Product Line Management team is seeking a Director of Product Line Management to lead product strategy, roadmap execution, and lifecycle management for the Waveserver portfolio. This role contributes to the direction of high-capacity optical transport solutions by translating customer and market requirements into differentiated products and business outcomes. The position works across multiple functions to support portfolio growth, profitability, and long-term product leadership.

How you will make an impact

• Define and drive Waveserver product strategy, roadmap direction, and investment priorities aligned to portfolio growth and differentiation.
• Translate customer, sales, and market requirements into product requirements, release priorities, and lifecycle plans.
• Lead cross-functional alignment across engineering, marketing, supply chain, procurement, services, and sales throughout the product lifecycle.
• Drive customer engagements, roadmap discussions, RFP/RFQ responses, offer defense activities, and product trials.
• Develop business cases for features, hardware, software releases, pricing strategies, cost optimization initiatives, and investment decisions.
• Manage product line performance through revenue planning, volume forecasting, margin improvement, competitive positioning, and lifecycle profitability.
• Monitor market developments across optical networking, coherent technologies, DCI, hyperscale networking, encryption, automation, open APIs, fiber sensing, and high-capacity aggregation applications.

The must haves

• Education: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical engineering, telecommunications, networking, communications systems, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience: 10+ years of relevant industry experience, including at least 5+ years of product line management or equivalent experience.
• Application of coherent optical systems, DWDM, OTN, Ethernet services, optical transport architectures, coherent pluggables, platform software, and network management concepts.
• Experience leading new product introductions, developing business cases, and growing product revenue within a competitive technology market.
• Experience aligning cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders.
• Experience with pricing, forecasting, margin management, competitive analysis, and customer value positioning.
• Experience communicating with executive audiences and customers, managing complex priorities and trade-off decisions, and supporting customer engagements through occasional travel.

Nice to haves

• Education: MBA or equivalent business leadership experience.
• Experience with hyperscale, cloud, carrier, subsea, government, enterprise, or research and education customer segments.
• Experience with high-capacity optical transport platforms, compact modular systems, coherent modems, encryption, automation, open management interfaces, or network control software.
• Experience working directly with global sales teams, field engineering, customer engineering, procurement, and supply chain organizations.
• Experience leading product decisions through formal product lifecycle, governance, or business decision point processes.

Pay Range: $166,000 - $265,200 CAD

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.