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Senior Director, Technology Strategy

How You Will Contribute:

Communication networks are undergoing fundamental architectural change as they restructure in support of data center expansion for cloud and services based on Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML). Networking and data center fabric systems are being redefined as connectivity becomes closely integrated with computing and storage.  Routing and Ethernet switching solutions are converging with the optical networking layer and technologies for interconnection are increasingly consumed as pluggable modules, disaggregated components, and systems-on-a-chip. Global disruption caused by AI/ML is creating new business opportunities across traditional and non-traditional networking markets. 

As part of the Corporate Strategy organization, the Senior Director, Technology Strategy will play a leading role in helping Ciena to develop and execute on a multi-faceted strategy related to expanding the company’s addressable market opportunity for connectivity solutions in support of evolving AI/ML markets inside and outside the data center.

Primary duties and responsibilities include:

• Facilitate the development and execution of a long-term corporate strategy to grow and accelerate the company’s business related to AI/ML.
• Develop and leverage an external network of industry leaders, customers, analysts, and peers to learn about and influence connectivity strategies for both networks and data center fabrics evolving from AI/ML disruption; proactively stimulate and drive idea flow; remain aware of industry developments; and perform forward-thinking analyses about opportunities and risks.
• Partner with internal functions (PLM, R&D, Sales, Marketing and Supply Chain) to conduct situational analyses of – and generate actionable insights on – existing and adjacent optical interconnect, routing and switching and software markets inside and outside the data center. Such analyses may include industry and technology trends and drivers associated with AI/ML that are influencing architectures, commercial and product consumption models, market size, growth, profitability, competitive landscape, comparative advantage, and risk.
• Based on strategic analyses, identify potential market entry points and intercepts, and assess and prioritize potential technology and business opportunities, for the company’s WaveLogic technology, networking software, and adjacent technologies in support of AI/ML interconnectivity markets inside and around the data center.
• Collaborate with functional leaders to build business cases for, make recommendations on, and facilitate executive decision-making about, strategic investment priorities and decisions for interconnectivity technology and software inside and outside the data center, including with respect to product portfolio, commercial and product consumption models, and go-to-market approach. Investment alternatives may include R&D, commercial and technical agreements, M&A, strategic alliances, and/or corporate venture capital investments.
• Provide leadership to the Corporate Strategy organization and other functions on a wide range of activities relevant to strategic decision-making, including support on business intelligence, industry research and data analytics of existing and adjacent markets, strategic planning, and corporate development activities.

The Must Haves:

• Bachelor's and Master of Science degrees in electrical engineering, computer science or equivalent.
• MBA or similar management-related master's degree is preferred.
• Ten years of industry experience, with at least five years of demonstrated experience and leadership in optical interconnect technology strategy and business development.
• Experience performing strategic analysis in the business of network connectivity, with proficiency across optical, IP and Ethernet domains in wide area networks and/or data centers.
• Proven track record in the incubation, development and management of products associated with networking and/or data center markets (including knowledge of architectures, processes, and commercial models).
• Deep understanding of AI/ML architecture, infrastructure, and model requirements.
• Experience of network and/or data center operations at global scale.
• Good understanding of network and/or data center automation, telemetry, and software defined n