Senior Lead Architect - AI-Driven Optical Network

Lumen; Richmond (VA); Remote; USD 132,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Voluntary lifestyle benefits

Job summary

Lumen is seeking a Senior Lead Architect to shape AI‑ready connectivity across our global optical network. You will lead architectural decisions, translate emerging tech into scalable designs, and guide cross‑functional teams through complex programs.

In this role you’ll influence strategic directions, drive high‑impact initiatives, and collaborate with vendors and standard bodies to ensure resilient, cost‑effective solutions for enterprise and government customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Optical, or Telecommunication engineering or 5–7+ years of equivalent experience.
• MBA or 5–7+ years of equivalent experience in financial modeling.
• Fluent in DWDM, Coherent Optics, ROADM/Open Line Systems, Optical performance modeling, and network resiliency
• Strong analytical approach to solving problems
• Experience communicating technical solutions from C‑Level to entry level employees
• Has led a new product introduction into production networks
• Strong data extraction and analytic skills using SQL and Power BI
• Knowledge in Quantum Encryption, HCF/MCF, APIs
• Participation in at least one standard body

Responsibilities

• Optical Strategist: translate emerging technologies into deployable architecture, standards, vendor requirements, and operational models
• Architectural Recommendations: include technology roadmaps, reference architectures, lifecycle planning, and interoperability requirements.
• Visionary: Envision future optical network over a 1–3-year horizon and turn them into reality
• Original Mindset: Think, how can we do this?
• AI-Enabled Innovation: Use AI tools to accelerate research, network analytics, documentation, automation, modeling, and decision support.
• Standard Bodies Participation: Engage in standard bodies such as an MSA, IEEE, OIF, Open ROADM, etc., to drive Lumen’s initiatives
• Data Mining and Trending Analytics: Utilize strong data mining skills to extract network data and present current and trending demands
• Financial Model Derivation: Fluent in TCO, ROI, NPV, sensitivity analysis, marginal cost, long-run average cost, capital efficiency, and demand-based forecasting.
• Business Case Development: Develop business cases to support architectural designs and decisions
• Automation Vision: Create an automation vision for the Optical Product line

Skills

DWDM

Coherent Optics

ROADM/Open Line Systems

Optical performance modeling

Network resiliency

Analytical skills

C-Level communication

Product introduction leadership

Data extraction

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Optical/Telecommunication Engineering

MBA

Tools

SQL

Power BI

Job description

Lumen is seeking a Senior Lead Architect to shape AI‑ready connectivity across our global optical network. You will lead architectural decisions, translate emerging tech into scalable designs, and guide cross‑functional teams through complex programs.

In this role you’ll influence strategic directions, drive high‑impact initiatives, and collaborate with vendors and standard bodies to ensure resilient, cost‑effective solutions for enterprise and government customers.