Remote Principal Product Manager – Data Center Networks

Lumen; Lincoln (NE); Remote; USD 160,000 - 223,000; Full time

Job summary

Lumen is seeking a Principal Product Manager to shape architecture and expansion strategy for our data center metro networks. You will own the internal product roadmap, evaluate expansions for technical viability and ROI, and lead cross-functional teams through delivery.

The role demands deep metro network expertise, strong financial judgment, and the ability to translate complex decisions into clear recommendations.

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of experience in product management, program management, network planning, or network engineering.
• 3+ years of experience supporting metro, data center, optical, or related network infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of metro network architecture, including ring and mesh topologies, and protection/restoration strategies.
• Ability to build and defend quantitative demand, investment, and ROI models using incomplete data.

Responsibilities

• Own the product strategy, requirements, and multi-year architectural roadmap for data center metro network solutions and expansion programs.
• Translate topology, diversity, capacity, transport, optical-layer decisions into repeatable configurations and reference designs.
• Lead cross-functional expansion programs from evaluation through delivery, coordinating teams, milestones, risks, and executive status reporting.
• Evaluate proposed network investments using demand, utilization, capex, revenue potential, and ROI analysis.
• Establish a framework for prioritizing metro network upgrades and expansion efforts.
• Build demand models combining contracted demand, pipeline, and forecast scenarios.
• Assess whether existing internal products remain viable platforms for future growth.

Skills

Product management

Program management

Network planning

Data center metro

Cross-functional leadership

Financial modeling

ROI analysis

Executive communication

Job description

Lumen is seeking a Principal Product Manager to shape architecture and expansion strategy for our data center metro networks. You will own the internal product roadmap, evaluate expansions for technical viability and ROI, and lead cross-functional teams through delivery.

The role demands deep metro network expertise, strong financial judgment, and the ability to translate complex decisions into clear recommendations.