R&D Test Manager (Software - Validation & Verification)

Socket.dev; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 105,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

VIAVI Solutions in Ottawa, Canada is seeking an experienced Software Development Manager to lead our Verification and Validation (V&V) engineering team, owning the V&V lifecycle for FoPLT software. This hands-on leadership role requires strong fiber-optics domain knowledge, test automation experience (Selenium, Robot Framework, JUnit), and collaboration with hardware, firmware, and product teams.

You will set testing strategies, define KPIs, mentor engineers, drive continuous improvement, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering Physics, Software Engineering, CS or related field.
• 8+ years in software development or V&V, with 3+ years in leadership.
• Strong SDLC knowledge and V&V methodologies (agile/waterfall).
• Experience in test strategy, automation frameworks, and KPI tracking.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a SaaS/v end-to-end V&V team with hands-on involvement.
• Define, implement, and optimize V&V strategies and test plans.
• Oversee automated test suites, environments, and execution.
• Collaborate with development, hardware, firmware, and product teams.
• Drive defect resolution, risk identification, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor KPIs and manage project schedules, resources, and budgets.

Skills

Fiber-optics

Test automation

Python

C++/Java/C#

CI/CD

Leadership

Selenium

Robot Framework

Jenkins

Git

Jira

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering Physics, Software Engineering, CS

Tools

Selenium

Robot Framework

JUnit

NUnit

pytest

Jenkins

GitLab CI/CD

Git

Jira

Job description

Summary:

VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions for telecommunications, cloud, enterprises, first responders, military, aerospace, and railway. VIAVI is also a leader in light management technologies for 3D sensing, anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications.

We are the people behind the products that help keep the world connected at home, school, work, at play, and everywhere in between. VIAVI employees are passionate about supporting customer success and we welcome people who bring their best every day to the company – to question, to collaborate and to push for solutions that will delight our customers.

Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Software Development Manager to lead our Verification and Validation (V&V) engineering team. This role is crucial for ensuring the quality, reliability, and performance of VIAVI's innovative Fiber optical production and lab testing product (FoPLT) developments, overseeing the entire V&V lifecycle and driving continuous improvement in our testing methodologies. This role will be located onsite in VIAVI’s office in Ottawa.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Job Responsibilities

• Acts as a hands-on technical managerwith proven experience leading teams while remaining actively involved in day-to-day technical work with strong fiber-optics experience.
• Good experience with fiber-optical test and measurement equipment, including setup, execution, analysis, and interpretation of results.
• Demonstrated programming and scripting experience, including working with systems that use various communication protocols. Test automation expertise, with automation framework like Playwrightas a required technology.
• Collaborate with hardware, systems, and firmware teams to validate end‑to‑end system performance.
• Quality‑focused, detail‑oriented. Proactive in identifying risks and driving continuous improvement.
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of software V&V engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Define, implement, and optimize V&V strategies, test plans, and methodologies for complex software systems, ensuring comprehensive coverage and adherence to industry best practices.
• Oversee the design, development, and execution of automated test suites, test cases, and test environments.
• Collaborate closely with development, product management, and quality assurance teams to integrate V&V activities throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
• Drive the investigation, reproduction, and resolution of software defects, working closely with development teams to ensure timely fixes and quality releases.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for V&V activities, providing regular reports on project status, quality metrics, and team performance.
• Manage project schedules, resources, and budgets for V&V initiatives, ensuring on‑time and within-budget delivery.
• Stay current with emerging V&V technologies, tools, and methodologies, driving their adoption where beneficial to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of software development processes and quality assurance practices across the organization.

Pre-Requisites / Skills / Experience Requirements:

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering Physic, Software Engineering, Computer Science or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in software development or V&V engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and various V&V methodologies, including agile and waterfall models.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing comprehensive test strategies for complex software products.
• Expertise in test automation frameworks, tools, and best practices (e.g., Selenium, Robot Framework, JUnit, NUnit, pytest).
• Solid programming skills in one or more languages such as Python, C++, Java, or C#.
• Experience with continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines and tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD).
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and defect tracking systems (e.g., Jira).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and guide technical teams.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Familiarity with optical networking equipment and photonic test instruments (OPM, OSW, VOA, SRC, OSA)
• Experience in the telecommunications or network test and measurement industry is a significant asset.

VIAVI Solutions is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer – minorities/females/veterans/persons with disabilities.

Job Posting Pay Range:

105,000

to

195,000

Exceptional qualifications, experience and location may impact salary. VIAVI offers a competitive benefits package that includes paid time off, health, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and a bonus program.