This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director, Product Line Management based in Canada.
The Director, Product Line Management will lead product strategy, roadmap execution, and lifecycle management for a portfolio of advanced optical networking solutions. This senior leadership role focuses on translating customer needs and market opportunities into differentiated products that strengthen competitive positioning and drive sustainable business growth. You will shape investment priorities, guide product development, and oversee commercial performance across the portfolio. Working closely with Engineering, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Services, you will ensure alignment from product concept through launch and lifecycle evolution. You will also engage directly with customers and executive stakeholders, helping define solutions for complex networking requirements. This is an opportunity to influence the future of high-capacity optical transport technology while driving innovation, profitability, and long-term product leadership.
Accountabilities
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Define and execute product strategy, roadmap direction, and investment priorities for the 6500, Coherent ELS, and Waveserver E-Series product portfolio.
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Translate customer feedback, sales requirements, and market intelligence into product requirements, release priorities, and lifecycle plans.
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Lead cross-functional alignment across Engineering, Marketing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Services, and Sales throughout the product lifecycle.
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Drive customer engagements, roadmap discussions, RFP/RFQ responses, offer defense activities, and product trials.
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Develop and evaluate business cases for new features, hardware and software releases, pricing strategies, cost optimization initiatives, and investment decisions.
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Manage product line performance through revenue planning, volume forecasting, margin improvement, competitive positioning, and lifecycle profitability.
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Monitor market developments and emerging opportunities across optical networking, coherent technologies, service provider networking applications, encryption, automation, open APIs, fiber sensing, and low- and high-capacity aggregation solutions.
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Balance customer needs, technical feasibility, commercial priorities, and investment trade-offs to support portfolio growth and differentiation.
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Support product decisions through formal lifecycle management, governance, and business decision processes.
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Bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Networking, Communications Systems, or equivalent practical experience.
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At least 10 years of relevant industry experience, including 5 or more years in product line management or a comparable role.
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Strong understanding of coherent optical systems, DWDM, OTN, Ethernet services, optical transport architectures, coherent pluggables, platform software, and network management concepts.
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Demonstrated experience leading new product introductions, developing business cases, and growing product revenue in competitive technology markets.
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Proven ability to align cross-functional teams, influence stakeholders, and drive decisions across complex organizations.
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Experience with pricing strategy, revenue forecasting, margin management, competitive analysis, and customer value positioning.
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Strong commercial and strategic thinking, with the ability to manage complex priorities and make informed trade-off decisions.
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Excellent communication and presentation skills, including experience engaging with executive audiences and customers.
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Willingness to travel occasionally to support customer engagements and business priorities.
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An MBA or equivalent business leadership experience is considered an asset.
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Experience serving hyperscale, cloud, carrier, subsea, government, enterprise, or research and education customer segments is preferred.
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Familiarity with high-capacity optical transport platforms, compact modular systems, coherent modems, encryption, automation, open management interfaces, or network control software is beneficial.
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Experience working directly with global Sales teams, field engineering, customer engineering, Procurement, and Supply Chain organizations is an advantage.
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Experience leading product decisions through formal product lifecycle, governance, or business decision-point processes is preferred.
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Annual salary range in Canada: CAD $170,500–$272,300.
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Eligible non-sales employees may receive a discretionary incentive bonus; awards are not guaranteed.
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Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
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Participation in a Canadian Defined Contribution Pension Plan (DCPP), with company matching.
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Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP).
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Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
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Company-paid holidays.
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Paid sick leave and vacation time.
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Paid family leave and other applicable leaves of absence, in accordance with relevant legislation.
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Opportunities for professional development, career growth, and recognition.
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An inclusive and collaborative workplace that values innovation, flexibility, and employee well-being.