10 Ciena engineering leaders
Son Thai Le, Director of Systems Design Architecture Engineering, heads this list of Ciena engineering leaders, whose current titles include directors of routing and IP software, research scientist and ASIC engineering, and a regional CTO and engineering director. A reader can learn how engineering leaders work at Ciena from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Alexey Timkin
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Ciena
Alexey Timkin has been Director of Engineering at Ciena since October 2018, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Alexey Timkin was Principal Consultant at DonRiver (2011 to 2018), Technical Account Manager and Principal Consultant at Cramer, Amdocs OSS Division (2006 to 2011) and Software Architect at Cramer Systems Ltd (2000 to 2006).
Daryl Lussier
LinkedInExperience: Director, Routing/IP Software Engineering · Ciena
Daryl Lussier has been Director, Routing/IP Software Engineering at Ciena since January 2025, based in Vernon, British Columbia, and was Senior Software Engineering Manager, Routing/IP Software Engineering there (2020 to 2025). Daryl Lussier held Software Engineering Manager, Technical Lead and Software Engineer roles at Northforge Innovations (2013 to 2020).
Eric Leser
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Ciena
Eric Leser has been Director of Engineering at Ciena since July 2023, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a headline that places the role in Ciena Services. Eric Leser was Director of Product Line Management at Spirent Communications (2018 to 2022), Director Of Engineering at Spectrum Enterprise (2016 to 2018) and Principal Engineer at Time Warner Cable (2015 to 2016).
Jamie Sanderson
LinkedInExperience: Engineering Director · Ciena
Jamie Sanderson has been Engineering Director at Ciena since June 2023, based in Ottawa, a role the profile describes as covering FPGA, base software, DevOps and infrastructure. At Ciena, Jamie Sanderson was also Software Director (2020 to 2023) and FPGA Senior Manager (2017 to 2020), and was Hardware Development Manager at Nortel Networks (2007 to 2009).
Mark Grabosky
LinkedInExperience: Director of ASIC Engineering · Ciena
Mark Grabosky has been Director of ASIC Engineering at Ciena since March 2022, based in Pittsford, New York, with a headline that reads Optical Networking Digital Design Architect. Mark Grabosky was Founder/Director of Engineering at Xelic (2002 to 2022), Principal Design Engineer at LSI Logic (1998 to 2002) and Senior ASIC Design Engineer at Eastman Kodak Company (1996 to 1998).
Matt Hayes
LinkedInExperience: ANZ CTO and Engineering Director · Ciena
Matt Hayes has been ANZ CTO and Engineering Director at Ciena since November 2025, based in Sydney, Australia. At Ciena, Matt Hayes was also Regional Managing Director, Telstra Group (2022 to 2026), Senior Director, Sales Engineering, APJ (2020 to 2022) and Head of Engineering & Technology ANZ (2016 to 2020).
Mohammad Pasandi
LinkedInExperience: Director, Research Scientist Engineering · Ciena
Mohammad Pasandi has been Director, Research Scientist Engineering at Ciena since January 2025, based in the Ottawa area, and the profile describes an engineering director role on the WaveLogic Science team at Ciena R&D. At Ciena, Mohammad Pasandi was also Senior Manager, Research Scientist Engineering (2021 to 2025) and Senior System Engineer (2014 to 2021).
Roopesh Palasdeokar
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering, Blue Planet Assurance Products and Solutions · Ciena
Roopesh Palasdeokar has been Director of Engineering, Blue Planet Assurance Products and Solutions at Ciena since August 2025, based in Pune, India. At Ciena, Roopesh Palasdeokar was also Senior Director, Software Engineering at Blue Planet, a Division of Ciena (2023 to 2025) and Director of Engineering, Route Optimisation and Analysis, Blue Planet (2018 to 2023), and was Director of Engineering at Packet Design (2016 to 2018).
Scott Leishman, Ph.D.
LinkedInExperience: Director, Routing/IP Software Engineering · Ciena
Scott Leishman has been Director, Routing/IP Software Engineering at Ciena since August 2026, a role the profile describes as leading a team on routing and switching software. Scott Leishman was Principal Software Engineering Manager, Azure at Microsoft (2021 to 2024) and Senior Manager, Vyatta and DANOS network operating systems team, AT&T Labs at AT&T (2017 to 2021).
Son Thai Le
LinkedInExperience: Director of Systems Design Architecture Engineering · Ciena
Son Thai Le has been Director of Systems Design Architecture Engineering at Ciena since October 2025, based in Holmdel, New Jersey. Son Thai Le was Director of System Integration and Testing at Nubis Communications (2023 to 2025) and held Member Of Technical Staff and Research Engineer roles at Nokia Bell Labs (2016 to 2022), and the headline mentions an MIT Innovator Under 35 Europe recognition.
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Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you change first when you took on your engineering role at Ciena, and why?
- 02Which measures did you rely on most to judge whether engineering work you led was on track?
- 03What is one decision from your own role that you would make differently today, and why?
Reaching Ciena engineering leaders
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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