Optical AI Product Line Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Canada.

📋 Description

• Take charge of the strategy and commercialization of Optical networking solutions for AI connectivity spanning DCI, metro, and long-haul domains.

• Spearhead engagements with North American Communications Service Providers to engineer and monetize optical networks for AI training and inference traffic.

• Develop account-specific solution strategies in collaboration with customers, Sales, and Sales Engineering to back CSP business cases for AI connectivity demand.

• Convert customer insights into Ciena's product roadmap and solution offerings.

• Position Ciena as the architectural benchmark for AI connectivity with a clearly defined set of North American CSP accounts within a year.

• Collaborate with CSP technology and product strategy teams on coherent optics and fabric design.

• Create revenue and TCO cases to validate customer investments.

• Collect and translate requirements from customers and internal stakeholders into product specifications, proposals, and RFI/RFP responses.

• Establish and prioritize roadmap features in collaboration with engineering, R&D, and PLM teams.

⛳️ Requirements

• Profound working knowledge of optical and IP networking architectures across DCI, metro, and long-haul.

• Familiarity with AI cluster networking, encompassing scale-out and scale-across fabrics, distributed training traffic patterns, and inference latency and distribution needs.

• Capable of constructing and defending customer business cases, including service monetization models and TCO/capex/opex analysis.

• Competent in navigating both architecture and commercial strategy.

• Proficient in gathering and converting requirements into product specifications, proposals, and RFI/RFP responses.

• Skilled in collaborating with cross-functional engineering, R&D, and PLM teams to define and prioritize roadmap features.

• Strong analytical and quantitative abilities.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Capacity to manage multiple initiatives with minimal guidance in a globally matrixed, cross-functional setting.

• Willingness to travel approximately 25%, primarily within North America.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Computer Science, or related), or equivalent experience — required.

• Over 10 years of experience in telecommunications or data communications, covering networking hardware and software, architecture, product line management, or solution development.

• Previous experience in product management, solutions architecture, technical marketing, or sales engineering.

• Proven record of technical engagements on networking for AI workloads with hyperscalers, neoclouds, CSPs, or enterprises.

• Demonstrated success in turning a technical architecture stance into a customer investment decision.

• Experience in translating cloud networking practices into service provider settings.

• Familiarity with coherent optical technologies.

• Exposure to industry forums, standards bodies, or global customer engagements.

🏝️ Benefits

• Development opportunities.

• Flexible work environment.

• Medical, dental, and vision plans.

• DCPP (Canada) with company matching.

• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP).

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

• Company-paid holidays.

• Paid sick leave.

• Vacation time.

• Paid Family Leave and other types of leave.

• Discretionary incentive bonus eligibility for non-Sales employees.

• Sales commission eligibility for Sales employees.