QA Lead Engineer - Routing & switching testing + Python Automation

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.

Job Description

Why Ciena:  

• We are big proponents of life-work integration and provide the flexibility and tools to make it a reality with remote work and potentially, part-time work. 
• We believe an inclusive, diverse and barrier-free work environment makes for empowered and committed employees. 
• We recognize the importance of well-being and offer programs and benefits to support and sustain the mental and physical health of our employees and their families and also offer a variety of paid family leave programs. 
• We are committed to employee development, offering tuition reimbursement and a variety of in-house learning and mentorship opportunities. 
• We know that financial security is important.  We offer competitive salaries and incentive programs, RSU’s (job level specific) and an employee share option purchase program. 
• We realize time away to recharge is non-negotiable.  We offer flexible paid time off! 
• Great work deserves recognition. We have a robust recognition program, with ongoing and enhanced awards for exemplary performance. 

CIENA's Packet products portfolio comprises of a broad family of products for access and aggregation tiers of the network.  Typically spanning from the Metro edge to the customer edge, these products provide Carrier Ethernet/MPLS/G.8032/TDM services in mobile backhaul, enterprise and residential domains.

The Packet Software and Access R&D organization is responsible for delivering platform-independent Service Aware Operating System (SAOS), Access products and next-generation virtualized operating system to support Virtualized/SDN/NFV applications.

Solution test automation engineers will be responsible for automation suite for platform-independent current and next-generation packet software encompassing the broad spectrum of CIENA's networking products. You will get an opportunity to innovate and influence new technologies that shape the future of Next Generation networks.   

How You Will Contribute:

Responsibilities include:

• Automate solution test plans to verify product capabilities
• Execution of automated regression suites and reporting test results with artifacts using Quality Center (QC)
• Work closely with engineers across teams to ensure quality for the features
• Build in-depth knowledge of product architecture and develop ability to root-cause issues
• Coordinate activities with North America test and development teams on a need basis
• FS and test plan / scripts review
• Detailed knowledge of Carrier Ethernet products and at ease to ramp up quickly on new technologies and concepts
• SME on two or more of the following domains: Carrier Ethernet, MPLS, G.8032, OAM (BFD, CFM, EOAM, AIS), BGP, ISIS, OSPF

What Does Ciena Expect of You?

• Initiative – You’re a self-starter who works with limited direction and is committed to delivering against deadlines.
• Creative thinking – you’re keen to understand technology and see opportunities to synthesize higher level requirements into design tasks.
• Agility – you are readily able to manage competing and ever-changing priorities and maintain a balanced and methodical approach to problem solving.

• Communication expertise – You can tailor your message and ideas to the audience to ensure understanding and agreement.
• Leadership – the ability to influence, empower and lead by example.
• The flexibility to work independently and as part of a broader team – you thrive in a team environment, but are comfortable working independently as required.
• Mentorship – you enjoy the opportunity and associated challenges of coaching and mentoring team members.
• A commitment to learning – you keep abreast of market, competitor and technology developments and use that information to Ciena’s advantage.

The Must Haves:

Position requires proficient troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

• Team oriented; strong inter-personal skills and ability to understand customers’ needs, expectations and perspective   
• Demonstrated ability to multitask on multiple projects
• Demonstrated communications skills, both verbal and written, to effectively communicate/collaborate with remote QA and Development teams
• Strong commitment to product excellence and quality
• Quickly comes up to speed in understanding of advanced concepts/methodology and contributes to improving and extending the impact and effectiveness of those concepts or new approaches to the current project
• Conducts knowledge sharing sessions (Critical): Moderate to complex topics, including smaller protocol or RFC related information, specific functional area presentations or methods of procedures.  Topics not product related that may help enhance process or efficiency, such introduction to new tools for testers

Required Experience

• BE / B.Tech. (EE/CS) Degree
• About 10 years of relevant experience in telecommunications, test and automation
• Hands-on Experience on at least 2 of the following Networking Protocols: Carrier Ethernet, MPLS, G.8032, OAM (BFD, CFM, EOAM, AIS), BGP, ISIS, OSPF
• Good experience in Python is must
• Experience with Ixia traffic generators
• Experience on IxNetwork is desirable
• Understanding of AI and ML is desirable

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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.