Senior Lead Architect - AI-Ready Optical Network (Remote)

Lumen; Dover (DE); Remote; USD 132,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

Lumen is seeking a Senior Lead Architect to drive bold, scalable architectural solutions for AI-ready connectivity. You will shape strategic vision across multiple disciplines, translating complex requirements into practical architectural outcomes with measurable business impact.

In this high-accountability role, you will lead cross-functional initiatives, influence C-level decisions, and mentor teams while delivering innovative optical networking architectures that align with company goals and

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 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

• Translate emerging technologies into deployable architecture, standards, vendor requirements, and operational models.
• Include technology roadmaps, reference architectures, lifecycle planning, and interoperability requirements.
• Envision future optical network over a 1–3-year horizon and turn them into reality.
• Think inventively to explore new solutions and approaches.
• Use AI tools to accelerate research, network analytics, documentation, automation, modeling, and decision support.
• Engage in standard bodies (MSA, IEEE, OIF, Open ROADM) to drive initiatives.
• Extract and analyze network data to present current and trending demands.
• Develop business cases with financial modeling (TCO, ROI, NPV).
• Create an automation vision for the Optical Product line.

Skills

Analytical skills

C-level communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical/optical/telecommunication engineering

MBA or 5–7+ years financial modeling experience

Tools

SQL

Power BI

Job description

Lumen is seeking a Senior Lead Architect to drive bold, scalable architectural solutions for AI-ready connectivity. You will shape strategic vision across multiple disciplines, translating complex requirements into practical architectural outcomes with measurable business impact.

In this high-accountability role, you will lead cross-functional initiatives, influence C-level decisions, and mentor teams while delivering innovative optical networking architectures that align with company goals and