Karen Price

Program/Project Engineer | ERG Lead | MASc | BSc

West Hants, Nova Scotia, Canada

About

Dynamic and results-driven Technical Program Manager with over 20 years in embedded systems development and over five years in program management. Proven expertise in software development and adept at managing the entire release lifecycle - from development and integration to testing and deployment. Demonstrated success in handling complex release schedules, optimizing release processes, and ensuring top-quality software delivery. Enthusiastic Global Co-Lead of the Women at Ciena Employee Resource Group, dedicated to shaping and aligning the group's strategic vision with organizational goals. I guide the team in setting objectives and implementing initiatives to promote gender diversity and inclusion. Committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for women, I contribute significantly to Ciena’s broader diversity and inclusion objectives. Ciena Cares Champion, dedicated to promoting volunteerism within Ciena. I drive engagement and support our community impact and social responsibility goals.

Experience

  • Ciena (16 yrs 5 mos)
    • Program/Project Engineer
      Mar 2026 - Present · 5 mos

    • Technical Program Manager
      Apr 2020 - Present · 6 yrs 4 mos

      Experienced Release Manager with a proven track record of overseeing and optimizing the end-to-end software release process. Skilled in coordinating cross-functional teams, managing release schedules, and ensuring seamless introduction of features. Adept at mitigating risks, handling complex project requirements, and implementing best practices to achieve high-quality and timely software releases. Committed to driving efficiency and continuous improvement in the release management lifecycle.

    • Senior Embedded Software Engineer
      Mar 2010 - Apr 2020 · 10 yrs 2 mos

      Senior embedded software engineer with over 20 years of experience. I specialize in designing, developing, and optimizing software for embedded systems in the optical networking industry. Skilled in designing scalable and efficient software architectures. Adept at diagnosing complex issues, performing root cause analysis, and optimizing code for performance and resource constraints. Experienced in working closely with product managers and other stakeholders to deliver integrated solutions that meet project goals and timelines.

  • Nortel Networks (11 yrs 9 mos)
    • Software Engineer
      1999 - 2010 · 11 yrs

    • Software Designer - Norstar
      May 1998 - Mar 2000 · 1 yr 11 mos