Senior Manager, Solutions Engineering

Ciena is committed to our people-first philosophy. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritizing a personalized and flexible work environment that empowers an individual’s passions, growth, wellbeing and belonging. We’re a technology company that leads with our humanity—driving our business priorities alongside meaningful social, community, and societal impact.

What will you do in your role at Ciena?

Ciena Government Solutions, Inc (CGSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ciena) is looking for a Senior Manager with the essential technical skills, and proven leadership capabilities to lead an exceptional team of Ciena Network Solutions Engineers. CGSI’s team is expanding an already successful Consulting Services practice focused on customization of Ciena’s product suite and the application of subject matter expertise within the national security, defense, and civilian sectors. This customer engineering practice has an exponential growth capacity for the Ciena Government team. The Candidate must have a strong technical background, proven track record of leading technical teams, and working knowledge of government processes and practices.

Your Role

As a key member of the Network Solutions Engineer team, you will be entrusted with the daily administrative, technical, and managerial tasks that encompass all aspects of our services operations. You will lead a technical team of Engineers In this role, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Program Management, Account Management, Sales, Contracts, and Government Primes. You will also be a crucial point of contact for our customers and stakeholders, ensuring smooth communication and efficient problem-solving.

Your Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations for all Network Solutions Engineers, to include technical and administrative functions
• Consistent interaction with team to ensure technical abilities, and career path development are met and fit the projected narrative for each Engineer within the team.
• Overall financial upkeep of active contracts, Burn rate, revenue projections, funding alignment, as well as utilization requirements.
• Develop, Write and Review contract statement of work (SOW) with Sales teams to ensure projects are properly quoted and all related work and material align with the scope of related project and sold as per customer expectations.
• Act as Technical liaison for resolution on standing issues for deployment efforts and deconflict roadblocks to resolution
• Present upper management and C-suite executives, with any degree of presentations to include, utilization, business cases, Engineer skillset, metrics analysis, development and hiring.
• Engage with contract primes, stakeholders and customers, to update and ensure performance is within expectations as well as discuss solutions for future growth, network expansion and modernization to include cost saving reduction efforts while keeping optimal network functionality.
• Business Developments for additional headcount and services, working closely with sales and account team.
• Drive lifecycle of varying projects, from, long-term and multi-year, to one-time consultant efforts.
• Serve as technical liaison for immediate team as well as Sales Engineers, deployment team, and PMO
• Continual Development and training paths for pro services engineering team, working with learning department to streamline and focus specific training solutions
• Assist in recruiting efforts as well as screen candidates for projected opportunities to ensure technical representation coincides with requested project requirements, as well as conduct interviews with said candidates.

Minimum Qualifications

• Security Clearance is required
• Degree in Telecommunications, Networking, or similar technical field of study (Experience in related field in lieu of Degree)
• Proven track record with leading a large team
• Proficient with Microsoft Office product suite for presentation and documentation (Word, PowerPoint, Visio, excel, teams, etc.)
• Security+ or any equivalent DoD 8570 (IAT Level II or higher)
• Working Knowledge and hands-on experience with Layer-0, Layer-1, Layer-2
• Strong understanding of SONET, DWDM, ROADM (and other (n)OADM configurations) architecture and provisioning and implementation

• Understanding of Carrier Ethernet architecture and provisioning and implementation
• Proven ability to produce technical documentation, such as, whitepapers, EMOPS, network diagrams
• Ability to learn new technology, apply and share applicable knowledge to customer, stakeholders, and peers
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Team orientation, organized, and capable of independent work with the ability to work with minimal direction, self-starter
• Ability to travel up to 25%

Preferred Qualifications

• Current or Prior experience and knowledge with Ciena Product Family
• Experience with project management in technical field preferably with a certification (Project+, ITIL, Scrum, Agile, etc)
• Previous work within telecommunications industry through equipment vendors, service providers, etc.

#LI-JD

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community to get relevant job alerts straight to your inbox.
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.