Junior Product Life Cycle Program Manager

Ciena is a global leader in high-speed connectivity, emphasizing a people-first approach and a flexible work environment. The Junior Product Life Cycle Program Manager will drive the planning and launch of new products, ensuring high-quality outcomes and effective cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities:

• Lead cross‑functional teams through Ciena’s new product introduction and lifecycle management processes
• Coordinate release plans that deliver committed scope on schedule and with high quality
• Mitigate risk by developing and executing comprehensive risk‑management plans
• Manage project schedules, scope, quality, and cost, ensuring transparent reporting to stakeholders
• Identify performance issues and guide the team through recovery planning and execution
• Maintain centralized project documentation and ensure data accuracy in project‑status systems
• Support early customer engagements by coordinating deliverables and resolving pre‑release issues

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in computer science, engineering, or a related field
• 3-5 years of technical leadership experience, including 1-3 years in project management
• Proven success leading complex software and hardware project deliveries
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including influence and negotiation
• Solid project‑management capabilities across planning, risk assessment, issue resolution, and performance tracking
• Ability to motivate and guide cross‑functional teams toward shared goals
• High attention to detail with strong organizational and problem‑solving skills
• Experience in product‑development environments
• PMP certification
• Demonstrated skill in managing change, ambiguity, and evolving priorities
• Ability to quickly learn technical concepts related to network products
• Experience working in fast‑paced, highly collaborative technology organizations