Software Manager - Routing protocols

Ciena Corporation; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Ciena is seeking a Senior Software Engineering Manager for Edinburgh to lead and grow the software team, driving predictable delivery across a global engineering org. You will combine people leadership with technical judgement and delivery execution to boost capability and product outcomes.

Responsibilities include mentoring engineers, hiring and developing talent, translating priorities into actionable plans, managing risks, and collaborating with Product, QA, and engineering teams to ensure

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of software development experience in networking/telecommunications.
• 10+ years across Product Management, QA and engineering, with priority alignment.
• Proven people-management experience including hiring, coaching and performance management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a software engineering team, fostering trust, accountability, and collaboration.
• Recruit, coach, and develop engineers to build technical and leadership capability.
• Translate priorities into clear plans, ownership models, commitments and delivery outcomes.
• Identify and communicate delivery risks and dependencies, driving momentum.
• Collaborate with Product Line Management, QA, and engineering to align priorities.
• Drive continuous improvement in practices, quality, performance, and maintainability.

Skills

People management

Software engineering leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Delivery management

Education

Degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Tools

Linux environment

Open-source development

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 is a global leader in high-speed connectivity, delivering networking technology for some of the world’s most demanding environments.

The Senior Software Engineering Manager – Networking role leads the growth and development of the Edinburgh software engineering team while driving predictable software delivery across a global engineering organisation. This position combines people leadership, technical judgement, and operational execution to strengthen engineering capability and product outcomes.

How you will make an impact:

• Lead and develop a software engineering team, fostering trust, accountability, and collaboration.
• Recruit, coach, and develop engineers to build technical and leadership capability across the organisation.
• Translate product and engineering priorities into clear plans, ownership models, commitments, and delivery outcomes.
• Identify and communicate delivery risks and dependencies, driving decisions that maintain project momentum.
• Collaborate with Product Line Management, QA, and engineering teams to align priorities and resolve issues.
• Lead design reviews, evaluate technical proposals, and facilitate resolution of technical disagreements.
• Drive continuous improvement in software engineering practices, product quality, performance, scalability, availability, and maintainability.

The must haves:

• Education: Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience: 10+ years of experience in software development within networking, telecommunications, or another technically complex domain.
• Experience: 10+ years of experience working across Product Management, QA, and engineering organisations, including alignment of priorities and resolution of disagreements.
• People-management experience including hiring, performance management, coaching, and development.
• Track record of building capable, healthy, and high-performing engineering teams.
• Evidence of delivering complex software through others while managing priorities, dependencies, and risks.
• Application of technical depth to engineering discussions and communication with engineers, architects, and customers.

Nice to haves:

• Experience developing software in a Linux environment.
• Experience with open-source software development.
• Experience leading geographically distributed engineering teams.
• Knowledge of network routers, switches, or routing protocols including OSPF, IS-IS, EVPN, and BGP.
• Experience developing carrier-grade or high-availability networking software.
• Application of modern software engineering practices including automated unit testing, CI/CD, and AI-assisted development tools.
• Experience working directly with customers or participating in customer-facing technical discussions.

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.