Lead Software Developer

Lumen; Richmond (VA); Remote; USD 116,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Lumen, the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, seeks a Lead Software Developer in the US to design, develop, test, and enhance software of moderate complexity. You will collaborate across disciplines to translate concepts into reliable, high‑quality solutions while using AI‑assisted tools and modern engineering practices.

Work from home within the US, with responsibilities spanning coding, testing, and release readiness.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience with a bachelor’s degree.
• 4+ years with a master’s degree.
• Strong AI proficiency and experience with AI-assisted development tools.
• Proven unit and system testing mindset and production-quality release discipline.
• Ability to collaborate in Agile teams and perform code reviews.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and enhance software of moderate complexity.
• Write testable, scalable code and maintain tests.
• Use AI-assisted development tools to improve productivity and quality.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, release teams, and QA to ensure production readiness.
• Estimate timelines and deliver within the plan.
• Support hosted environments and deployment in AWS/Azure/Google.

Skills

AI proficiency

Unit testing mindset

Agile teamwork

Code reviews

Java

Python

REST API

MySQL

Kubernetes

AWS

Azure

Google Cloud

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

GitHub Actions

Jenkins

Docker

Kubernetes

Kafka

Job description

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high‑performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities.

At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter.

This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. The work is challenging, expectations are clear, and trust is built into how we operate. If you’re ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI‑ready connectivity, join us today.

The Role

In this role, the successful candidate joins a high-accountability environment where bold thinking, ownership, and innovation shape the future of AI-ready connectivity. They become part of a team that tackles meaningful challenges, earns trust through execution, and delivers solutions that create lasting value for customers, partners, and the industry.

As a Lead Software Developer, they design, develop, test, debug, and enhance software solutions of moderate complexity while collaborating across disciplines to bring ideas to life. They translate technical concepts into clear, actionable approaches, partner closely with stakeholders and release teams, and help deliver reliable, high-quality outcomes. Leveraging modern engineering practices, AI-enabled development tools, and rigorous testing methodologies, they contribute to software projects that drive innovation, strengthen connectivity, and advance the organization's vision for the future.

Location

This is a work from home position from within the US.

The Main Responsibilities

• Tasks may include designing, coding programs, testing and documenting changes and enhancements
• Write testable and scalable code for programs
• Design and maintain unit, system, integration, and regression tests to validate code quality, reduce defect escape, and improve release readiness
• Use approved AI tools and AI-assisted development practices to improve productivity, code quality, documentation, test coverage, and problem analysis while applying sound engineering judgment
• Analyzes programming requests for the purpose of assisting integration with current applications
• Tasks may include project implementation, researching, evaluating problems, and recommending and implementing decisions
• Conducts training for the purpose of providing technical expertise to end users
• Estimates timeline for assigned projects and ensures that work is completed with the estimate given
• Work closely with team members, product owners, QA, operations, and release teams to ensure code alignment with standards, sprint commitments, release trains, and production-readiness expectations
• Enable code in hosted environments

What We Look For in a Candidate

• 6+ years of experience with a bachelor’s degree
• 4+ years of experience with a master’s degree
• Strong AI proficiency, including practical use of approved AI-assisted development tools for requirements analysis, coding, documentation, code review, test generation, and productivity improvement
• Must demonstrate a strong unit and system testing mindset, including test planning, automated test development, regression validation, defect prevention, and production-quality release discipline
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate in Agile team environments, communicate technical tradeoffs clearly, participate in code reviews, and support shared ownership of delivery outcomes
• Proficient in Java, Rest API, API management, MySQL, Python, GIT Hub/Actions, Jenkins, Kubernetes, Kafka, and working within hosted environments (AWS, Azure, Google)
• Preferred Knowledge: Optical DWDM, Ruby on Rails

Compensation

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors.

Location Based Pay Ranges

$105,786 - $141,047 in these states: AL AR AZ FL GA IA ID IN KS KY LA ME MO MS MT ND NE NM OH OK PA SC SD TN UT VT WI WV WY

$111,074 - $148,099 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI

$116,364 - $155,152 in these states: AK CA CT DC DE IL MA MD NJ NY TX VA WA

Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process.

Learn more about Lumen's:

Benefits (https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/benefits-statement)

Bonus Structure

#LI-Remote

Requisition #: 342900

Life at Lumen

Life at Lumen is human and connected, even in a fast moving, AI‑focused organization. We set clear expectations and trust people to meet them. With real support and shared accountability, teams collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes.

Our Lumen 8 behaviors guide how we interact, make decisions, and work together, shaping a culture built to perform and win.

To learn more about Life at Lumen and how we live the Lumen 8, please visit:

https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/life-at-lumen

Background Screening

If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page (https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/faq) . Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Equal Employment Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.

Privacy Notice

Lumen is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected during the recruitment and hiring process. Our Applicant Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect applicant information, as well as how individuals may request access to or deletion of their personal data.

To review Lumen’s Global Employment Applicant and Talent Community Privacy Notice, please visit:

https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/privacy-notice

Disclaimer

The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Please be advised that Lumen does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Lumen, they are not for employment with us, but may relate to another company with a similar name.