Sr Manager - Technology & Platform Development

Job Requirements (JR):

Senior Manager (B4-1) - Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

Location: Chennai

Role Purpose

Lead the strategy, product development, transformation, onboarding, orchestration, and engineering evolution of the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) portfolio, encompassing SD-WAN, Secure Service Edge (SSE) and Secure Internet Access.

The role requires deep expertise in Lead-to-Order (L2O), Order-to-Cash/Order-to-Billing (O2C/O2B), and Trouble-to-Resolve (T2R) customer journeys, service orchestration platforms, AI-enabled automation, API-driven ecosystems, and cloud-native security architectures. The position will drive seamless customer onboarding, service lifecycle management, policy-based provisioning, and Zero-Touch MACD (Move, Add, Change, Delete) operations across the SASE portfolio while enabling scalable digital service delivery and customer experience transformation.

Key Responsibilities

SASE Product Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Drive product strategy, portfolio evolution, onboarding, and lifecycle management for SASE services including SD-WAN, SSE, and Secure Internet Access.
• Define and execute product roadmaps aligned with enterprise security, cloud transformation, and digital connectivity strategies.
• Lead portfolio modernization initiatives to improve customer experience, operational efficiency, automation, and service adoption.
• Partner with business, product management, security architecture, and commercial teams to develop next-generation managed SASE offerings.

Product Development & Engineering Leadership

• Own end-to-end telecom and security software product development, release governance, roadmap execution, and portfolio transformation.
• Lead engineering teams responsible for service onboarding, orchestration, workflow automation, and customer lifecycle management.
• Drive adoption of cloud-native, API-first, and microservices-based architectures across SASE platforms.
• Ensure scalable and secure service delivery through standardized engineering and operational frameworks.

Digital Customer Journey Transformation

• Lead transformation initiatives across L2O, O2C/O2B, and T2R value streams for SASE products.
• Drive self-service capabilities for provisioning, configuration management, policy deployment, service upgrades, and MACD operations.
• Improve customer onboarding, service activation, assurance, incident management, and billing experiences through automation and orchestration.
• Enhance digital channels and customer portals to support secure service consumption and lifecycle management.

Service Orchestration & Automation

• Lead implementation and integration of Service Orchestration platforms, Cisco NSO, MSO, SD-WAN controllers, and cloud security management platforms.
• Drive onboarding of SASE services onto orchestration platforms for automated fulfillment and service activation.
• Enable policy-driven provisioning, Zero-Touch deployment, automated configuration management, and lifecycle automation.
• Govern orchestration architectures spanning CRM, Order Management, Inventory, Security Platforms, Assurance, and Billing ecosystems.

API & Ecosystem Integration

• Define API-led integration strategies across OSS/BSS platforms, security vendors, hyperscalers, and network domains.
• Drive adoption of TM Forum Open APIs, API management frameworks, and digital ecosystem integrations.
• Lead integration initiatives involving Salesforce, ServiceNow, SAP, orchestration platforms, and security technology stacks.
• Ensure interoperability between SD-WAN, cloud security, identity management, observability, and enterprise systems.

AI & Operational Excellence

• Lead AI-driven automation initiatives across fulfilment, assurance, security operations, and customer support functions.
• Utilize AI/ML capabilities to improve incident prediction, root cause analysis, security posture management, and operational intelligence.
• Drive automation-led reduction in manual operational effort and improved service reliability.
• Establish KPIs and governance frameworks for automation maturity and customer experience improvements.

Stakeholder & Delivery Leadership

• Collaborate with Product, Security, Engineering, Architecture, Operations, and Commercial teams to drive portfolio outcomes.
• Conduct business requirement analysis, solution assessments, impact analysis, estimation, and investment planning.
• Lead leadership reviews, customer demonstrations, architecture governance, PI planning, UAT governance, and program steering committees.
• Manage strategic relationships with technology partners, vendors, and cross-functional stakeholders.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science, Information Technology, Cyber Security, or related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in Telecom, Networking, Cloud Security, SASE, and Software Product Engineering domains.
• Proven expertise in L2O, O2C/O2B, and T2R process transformation within telecom, networking, or managed security services environments.
• Strong experience in SASE technologies including:
• SD-WAN
• Secure Service Edge (SSE)
• Secure Internet Access

Experience with service orchestration, provisioning automation, and lifecycle management platforms.Deep understanding of enterprise networking technologies including WAN, LAN, MPLS, Internet, Routing, Switching, SD-WAN, and Cloud Connectivity.Experience in API-first architectures, cloud platforms, automation frameworks, and AI-enabled operational models.Strong exposure to OSS/BSS ecosystems and integration architectures.Experience leading enterprise-scale transformation programs and customer journey modernization initiatives.

Preferred Technical Expertise

SASE & Security Technologies

• Cisco Secure Access
• Cisco SD-WAN (Viptela)
• Palo Alto Prisma SASE
• Netskope
• Zscaler
• Fortinet SASE
• SSE Platforms

Networking & Connectivity

• SD-WAN
• MPLS
• Routing & Switching
• Hybrid Connectivity
• Internet & Cloud Connectivity
• Software Defined Networking (SDN)

Service Orchestration & Automation

• Zero-Touch Provisioning
• Service Lifecycle Management
• Network Automation Frameworks

OSS/BSS & Digital Platforms

• Salesforce (SFDC)
• ServiceNow
• SAP S/4HANA
• Order Management Platforms
• CRM
• Inventory, Assurance & Billing Systems
• TM Forum Open APIs
• Open Digital Architecture (ODA)

Cloud & AI Technologies

• AWS
• Azure
• Google Cloud
• Container & Kubernetes Platforms
• AI/ML-powered Operations
• AIOps
• Observability Platforms
• Security Analytics & Automation

Desirable Experience

• Minimum 5 years as Product Owner, Engineering Manager, Digital Product Manager, or Portfolio Lead within SASE, Managed Security, SD-WAN, Enterprise Connectivity, or Security Services domains.
• Experience with SAFe Agile delivery models including PI Planning, Release Train Management, Portfolio Governance, and Backlog Prioritization.
• Experience managing product investments, engineering budgets, business cases, and benefit realization.
• Proven experience in EPIC management, journey mapping, portfolio planning, and strategic roadmap development.
• Strong experience driving cross-functional alignment across OSS/BSS platforms, orchestration systems, cloud environments, and security platforms.
• Experience in onboarding security services onto automated fulfilment and orchestration platforms.
• Exposure to AI-driven security operations, AIOps, and cloud-native service delivery environments.

Core Competencies

• SASE Portfolio Management & Strategy
• Product Engineering & Service Lifecycle Management
• SD-WAN & Secure Access Services
• L2O, O2C/O2B & T2R Transformation
• Service Orchestration & Automation
• Zero-Touch Provisioning & MACD Automation
• OSS/BSS Architecture & Transformation
• Cloud Security & Enterprise Networking
• AI & Digital Transformation Leadership
• Portfolio Governance & Roadmap Management
• SAFe Agile Delivery & PI Planning
• Stakeholder & Executive Management

Success Measures

• Reduction in L2O, O2C/O2B, and T2R cycle times for SASE services.
• Increased automation and straight-through provisioning rates.
• Successful onboarding of SASE products onto orchestration and fulfilment platforms.
• Expansion of Zero-Touch deployment and MACD capabilities.
• Improved customer onboarding, activation, and service assurance KPIs.
• Growth in SASE adoption, customer retention, and portfolio revenues.
• Increased API utilization, orchestration maturity, and operational efficiency.
• Enhanced AI-driven operational outcomes and service reliability.
• Successful execution of portfolio roadmaps, PI objectives, and transformation initiatives.
• Improved customer experience and business outcomes across the SASE service portfolio.

Required Skills

• platform development
• process automation
• digital product design
• secure access service edge
• sd-wan
• secure service edge
• service orchestration
• network automation
• zero-touch provisioning
• cloud security
• cloud