Blue Planet Data Management Lead

Ciena is advancing intelligent, automated networks through its Blue Planet portfolio by enabling data-driven innovation and AI-powered operations. This role leads the definition of data strategy, architecture, and productization for telecom data, enabling scalable digital twin capabilities and data platforms that support next-generation network operations. The position plays a critical role in aligning data foundations with AI, automation, and product innovation across the portfolio.
 

How you will make an impact:

• Define and own the canonical telco data model and ontology across network topology, service lifecycle, inventory, assurance, and OSS domains

• Align data models with industry standards including TM Forum Open APIs, SID/eTOM, Open Digital Architecture, YANG/NETCONF, and TOSCA

• Drive adoption of ontology models across product teams as the semantic foundation for data exchange, AI training, and digital twin deployment

• Develop and lead the data fabric product architecture, including federated access, streaming pipelines, virtualization, metadata management, and lineage tracking

• Translate data architecture vision into scalable, cloud-native and microservices-based implementations in collaboration with engineering teams

• Define and deliver the telco digital twin strategy, including use cases such as network optimization, predictive maintenance, and simulation

• Engage with customers, partners, and industry forums to validate solutions, influence standards, and position the portfolio in the market
   

The must haves:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Software Engineering with telecommunications, networking, or communications systems concentration, or equivalent experience

• Experience: 15+ years of experience in the telecom software industry with at least 5+ years of product line management experience

• Application of telecom data modeling, schema design, graph or ontology structures, and enterprise data management tools

• Application of AI and ML data requirements including feature stores, training data pipelines, data lineage, and model grounding techniques for GenAI or LLM use cases

• Background in OSS environments including network automation, orchestration, inventory, assurance, and network management systems

• Exposure to telecom network domains including fixed, mobile or RAN, and cable or MSO across core, transport, and access layers

• Experience introducing complex technical products or architectures into Tier-1 CSP or network provider environments
   

Nice to haves:

• Background in cloud-native architectures including Kubernetes, microservices, and cloud data platforms

• Exposure to multi-cloud environments

• Collaboration across engineering, product management, marketing, and field organizations

• Engagement with industry analysts and participation in analyst briefings

• Contribution to industry forums such as TM Forum, MEF, ETSI, or ONF

• Development of technical content including whitepapers, blogs, or conference presentations

• Support of go-to-market strategy and product positioning