Principal Software Architect

Lumen Technologies; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 152,000 - 223,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Life benefits

Financial wellbeing program

Job summary

Lumen Technologies seeks a Principal Software Architect to bring broad software architecture expertise to the Digital Journey Architecture and Solutions team. You will lead multi-system design, apply formal architecture practices, and drive AI-augmented and agentic workflows across DJAS projects.

This remote opportunity in the U.S. emphasizes breadth over domain specialization, with a focus on performance, security, and observability while collaborating with cloud and security architects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related field.
• 12+ years of software architecture experience or 10+ years with a Master's degree.
• AI-first practitioner – integrates AI tools as a routine part of architecture work.

Responsibilities

• Apply proven software architecture principles to DJAS design work: microservices, event-driven patterns, distributed systems.
• Lead architecture design sessions and reviews; ensure NFRs are addressed from the start.
• Define architecture governance: what is ready to ship vs needs more work, codify standards.
• Evaluate and adopt modern architecture patterns beyond existing practices.
• Apply AI-augmented engineering practices safely and observably in designs.
• Architect for operational excellence: observability, chaos engineering, runbooks.
• Bridge architecture and implementation; verify alignment with design intent.

Skills

Software architecture

AI/ML integration

DDD & microservices

Observability

API design (REST/gRPC/GraphQL)

Security architecture

Leadership & mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field

Master's degree (advantage)

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Kubernetes

Docker

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

Bring classically trained, broad software architecture expertise to the Digital Journey Architecture and
Solutions team. DJAS architects have developed deep knowledge of Lumen's systems through years of
embedded work - this role brings the architectural discipline, patterns, and methodologies that complement
that institutional depth. The Principal Software Architect raises the architectural quality bar across DJAS's
design work by bringing formal architecture practices, modern system design patterns, and a perspective
that isn't shaped entirely by how things have been done at Lumen.
This is not a domain specialist role. The value is breadth, discipline, and the ability to apply proven
architectural principles to complex, multi-system problems - including the emerging domain of
AI-augmented and agentic systems.

Location

This is a remote opportunity open to candidates located anywhere in the U.S.

The Main Responsibilities

• Apply proven software architecture principles to DJAS design work: microservices, event-driven
  patterns, distributed systems, API-first design, domain-driven design
• Lead architecture design sessions and design reviews - challenge assumptions, surface tradeoffs,
  ensure solutions address NFRs (performance, reliability, scalability, observability, security) from the start
  Produce high-quality architecture artifacts: solution designs, ADRs, integration specifications,
  architecture standards
• Define architecture governance practices: what makes a design "good enough to ship" vs what needs
  more work; codify standards the team applies consistently
• Evaluate and adopt modern architecture patterns and methodologies - not just what Lumen has done,
  but what the broader engineering discipline has learned
• Apply AI-augmented engineering practices: LLM-assisted design, agentic workflow architecture,
  integrating AI capabilities into system designs safely and observably
• Architect for operational excellence: observability-first design, chaos engineering readiness,
  runbook-aligned failure handling
• Bridge the gap between architecture and implementation: stay present through delivery, validate that
  what gets built matches the design intent, surface gaps early
• Mentor architects and engineers on architecture fundamentals, design patterns, and how to think about
  system design rigorously
• Partner with cloud, IAM/security, and domain architects to ensure cross-cutting concerns are
  addressed coherently across DJAS's portfolio
• Challenge technical debt patterns where they emerge in designs - not to block delivery, but to ensure
  the team is making conscious choices

What We Look For in a Candidate

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or related field with 12+ years of software
  architecture experience or
• Master's degree with 10+ years of software architecture experience
• AI-first practitioner - actively integrates AI tools (LLMs, coding assistants, AI-powered analysis and
  design tools) as a routine part of architecture and engineering work, not as an occasional experiment.
• Candidates must demonstrate specific, current examples of how AI has meaningfully accelerated or
  improved their work.
• Classically trained software architecture background: formal education or structured architecture
  practice exposure (not exclusively developed through a single company's environment)
• API design authority: REST, gRPC, GraphQL - knows when to use each, how to version, how to
  govern
• Domain-driven design (DDD) and bounded context modeling
• Non-functional requirements design: performance engineering, reliability patterns (circuit breakers,
  bulkheads, retries), scalability modeling
• Observability architecture: OpenTelemetry instrumentation, metrics design, distributed tracing, alerting
  standards
• Security architecture integration: threat modeling, secure design patterns, data classification in
  architecture
• Strong written and verbal communication: can produce ADRs and solution designs that are clear,
  precise, and decision-quality
• Track record of delivered production systems - not just designs, but architectures that were built and
  operated

Preferred

• Experience architecting AI/ML-augmented systems: LLM integration patterns, RAG architecture,
  agentic workflow design
• Cloud-native architecture depth (AWS, Azure, or GCP) - complements the dedicated Cloud Architect
  role
• Experience in telecom, network automation, or NaaS domains - reduces ramp time on Lumen-specific
  context
• Platform architecture experience: designing systems that other teams build on, not just end-user
  applications
• Architecture governance experience in a multi-team engineering organization: standards enforcement,
  design review processes, exception handling
• Contributions to technical standards bodies, open source architecture frameworks, or published
  architectural thinking

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
$152,066 - $202,755 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
$159,670 - $212,893 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI
$167,273 - $223,031 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.

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.

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 . 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.

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.

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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.

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