At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic software engineering team and drive innovative networking solutions.
- Company: Ciena, a global leader in high-speed connectivity with a people-first culture.
- Benefits: Flexible work environment, competitive salary, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to respect, value, and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in tech while fostering collaboration and innovation.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software development and strong people management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
As the global leader in high-speed connectivity, Ciena is committed to a people-first approach. Our teams enjoy a culture focused on prioritising 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: Experience developing software in a Linux environment.
- Experience: Experience with open-source software development.
- Experience: Experience leading geographically distributed engineering teams.
- Knowledge of network routers, switches, or routing protocols including OSPF, IS-IS, EVPN, and BGP.
- Experience: 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.
Software Manager - Routing protocols in Edinburgh employer: Ciena Government Solutions
Ciena is an exceptional employer that prioritises a people-first approach, fostering a flexible work environment that champions individual growth and well-being. As a global leader in high-speed connectivity, employees are empowered to make meaningful contributions while engaging in innovative projects that have a real-world impact. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, Ciena offers a supportive culture where every voice is valued, making it an ideal place for aspiring Software Engineers to launch their careers.
Contact Details:
Ciena Government Solutions Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Manager - Routing protocols in Edinburgh
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Ciena Government Solutions or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Ciena Government Solutions.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Ciena Government Solutions.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Ciena Government Solutions that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Software Manager - Routing protocols in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Ciena Government Solutions.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Ciena Government Solutions and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ciena Government Solutions
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Ciena Government Solutions uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.