Software Development Manager; Validation & Verification

Job Summary

VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions for telecommunications, cloud, enterprises, first responders, military, aerospace, and railway. VIAVI is also a leader in light management technologies for 3D sensing, anti‑counterfeiting, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications. We are the people behind the products that help keep the world connected at home, school, work, at play, and everywhere in between.

VIAVI employees are passionate about supporting customer success and we welcome people who bring their best every day to the company – to question, to collaborate and to push for solutions that will delight our customers.

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Software Development Manager to lead our Verification and Validation (V&V) engineering team. This role is crucial for ensuring the quality, reliability, and performance of VIAVI’s innovative Fiber optical production and lab testing product (FoPLT) developments, overseeing the entire V&V lifecycle and driving continuous improvement in our testing methodologies.

Location:

Onsite in VIAVI’s office in Ottawa.

• Acts as a hands‑on technical manager with proven experience leading teams while remaining actively involved in day‑to‑day technical work with strong fiber‑optics experience.
• Leads and mentors a team of software V&V engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Defines, implements, and optimises V&V strategies, test plans, and methodologies for complex software systems to ensure comprehensive coverage and adherence to industry best practices.
• Oversees the design, development, and execution of automated test suites, test cases, and test environments.
• Collaborates closely with development, product management, and QA teams to integrate V&V activities throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
• Drives investigation, reproduction, and resolution of software defects, working closely with development teams to ensure timely fixes and quality releases.
• Establishes and monitors key performance indicators (KPIs) for V&V activities, providing regular reports on project status, quality metrics, and team performance.
• Manages project schedules, resources, and budgets for V&V initiatives, ensuring on‑time and within‑budget delivery.
• Stays current with emerging V&V technologies, tools, and methodologies, driving their adoption to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Contributes to the continuous improvement of software development processes and quality assurance practices across the organization.
• Demonstrates strong fiber‑optical test and measurement equipment experience, including set‑up, execution, analysis, and interpretation of results.
• Exhibits demonstrated programming and scripting experience, working with systems that use various communication protocols.
• Possesses test automation expertise, including experience with Playwright, Selenium, Robot Framework, JUnit, NUnit, or pytest.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering Physics, Software Engineering, Computer Science or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in software development or V&V engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role.
• Strong understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and various V&V methodologies, including agile and waterfall models.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing comprehensive test strategies for complex software products.
• Expertise in test automation frameworks, tools, and best practices (e.g., Selenium, Robot Framework, JUnit, NUnit, pytest).
• Solid programming skills in at least one language such as Python, C++, Java, or C#.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and tools (e.g., Jenkins, Git Lab CI/CD).
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and defect tracking systems (e.g., Jira).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and guide technical teams.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Familiarity with optical networking equipment and photonic test instruments (OPM, OSW, VOA, SRC, OSA).
• Experience in the telecommunications or network test and measurement industry is a significant asset.

VIAVI offers a competitive benefits package that includes paid time off, health, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and a bonus program.

Pay range: $100,100 to $185,900. Exceptional qualifications, experience and location may impact salary.

VIAVI Solutions is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer – minorities/females/veterans/persons with disabilities.