Sr. Director, Software Engineering

In our ‘always on’ world, we believe it’s essential to have a genuine connection with the work you do.

 

At RUCKUS Networks, we’re driving innovation in networking with cutting-edge solutions that empower our customers to deliver personalized experiences while seamlessly managing and monitoring complex networks. Our solutions integrate WiFi access points, switches, routers, cloud management, and AI analysis, enabling businesses to optimize network performance and provide exceptional user experiences.

 

How You'll help us connect the world:

 

RUCKUS Edge plays a pivotal role in our solution by bringing intelligence and local processing closer to the end user. By minimizing latency and enabling real-time decision-making at the network edge, RUCKUS Edge enhances reliability and delivers a superior user experience. As we continue to innovate, we're exploring how AI-driven insights and machine learning can further elevate RUCKUS Edge, unlocking advanced network optimization and proactive performance management for even greater efficiency in the future.

 

We are seeking a dynamic and technical Senior Director of Software Engineering to lead the RUCKUS Edge product. This highly visible role is critical to shaping our Network as a Service offerings, driving innovation in SD-WAN, routing protocols, and network security. You will drive customer-centric innovation while ensuring fast, high-quality delivery, leading talented cross-functional teams across the globe.

 

This hybrid role offers—work from home and spend 3 days a week collaborating at our Sunnyvale, CA office.

 

Responsibilities:

 

• Lead the architecture, solution design, and development of Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) offerings, ensuring seamless integration with the RUCKUS ecosystem, including WiFi access points, switches/routers, and RUCKUS Cloud.
• Apply expertise in SD-WAN, network security, and edge technologies to deliver scalable, resilient solutions tailored for key sectors such as Education, Hospitality, MDU (Multi-Dwelling Units), and Managed Service Providers (MSPs).
• Collaborate with Product Line Management (PLM) and senior leadership to define and execute the product roadmap, prioritizing features based on customer needs, market demand, and technical feasibility.
• Lead global engineering teams and work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure system architecture alignment and adherence to product delivery timelines.
• Exhibit strong leadership, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Implement fast-paced software development cycles, from proof of concept to feature development and iteration, maintaining high standards of quality, security, and scalability.
• Integrate open-source software and third-party technologies into the RUCKUS Edge stack to ensure scalability, performance, and reliability.
• Conduct technical reviews of architectural designs, specifications, and documentation to ensure network performance, optimization, and security best practices.
• Drive a culture of technical excellence and innovation by exploring next-gen technologies like AI-powered networking, machine learning for traffic optimization, and emerging networking protocols.
• Act as the lead contact for customer issues, ensuring rapid resolution while maintaining high customer satisfaction.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing engineering team, fostering growth in technical expertise and leadership.

 

Required Qualifications:

 

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field (MS/PhD preferred).
• 10+ years of software engineering management experience, with 8+ years in leadership roles for MS/PhD holders.
• 20+ years of total experience in software engineering, with a focus on networking, edge computing, and network security.
• Expertise in networking technologies, including data path switching, routing protocols, SD-WAN, Zero Trust, and SASE.
• Strong knowledge of microservice architecture, containerized (CNF) and virtualized (VNF) network functions, and cloud-native environments like Kubernetes/Docker.
• Proven track record of leading cross-geographical teams and successfully delivering complex software products in a collaborative, multi-functional environment.
• Experience in driving rapid proof-of-concept (POC) development and balancing innovation with disciplined engineering practices.
• Customer-focused approach, with a strong ability to translate customer needs into valuable technical solutions.
• Hands-on experience with integrating open-source software and third-party technologies into unified product stacks, including cloud-based security solutions.
• Excellent communication