Senior Lead Architect — AI-Driven Optical Networks

Lumen; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Life benefits

Bonus structure

Job summary

Lumen is seeking a Senior Lead Architect to drive AI-ready connectivity solutions and scalable network designs. You will translate emerging optical technologies into actionable architectures, roadmaps, and vendor requirements while leading cross‑functional teams across disciplines.

You will shape the organization’s strategic vision, lead complex initiatives, and collaborate with stakeholders to deliver high-impact outcomes for customers and partners in a fast-moving AI-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, optical, or Telecommunication engineering, or 5-7+ years of equivalent experience and training.
• Master of Business Administration, 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 been the technical subject matter expert that has successfully led a new Product introduction into the production network.
• Knowledge in the following areas: 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

Strong analytical skills

Communication with C-Level

Data mining with SQL

Problem solving

Education

Bachelors in electrical/optical/telecom engineering

MBA or financial modeling experience

Tools

SQL

Power BI

Job description

Lumen is seeking a Senior Lead Architect to drive AI-ready connectivity solutions and scalable network designs. You will translate emerging optical technologies into actionable architectures, roadmaps, and vendor requirements while leading cross‑functional teams across disciplines.

You will shape the organization’s strategic vision, lead complex initiatives, and collaborate with stakeholders to deliver high-impact outcomes for customers and partners in a fast-moving AI-driven environment.