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

Lumen; Santa Fe (NM); Remote; USD 132,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Life insurance

Voluntary lifestyle benefits

Job summary

Lumen is seeking a Senior Lead Architect to drive bold, scalable AI‑ready connectivity strategies. You’ll shape architectural solutions across optical networks, lead cross‑functional teams, and translate complex requirements into future‑proof designs that deliver measurable business impact.

You’ll influence the organization’s strategic vision, engage with standards bodies, and mentor others while delivering high‑impact initiatives across multiple business units in a remote US role.

Qualifications

• Must have strong analytical skills and ability to model complex scenarios.
• Experience presenting technical solutions to C‑level audiences.
• Led a new product introduction into production networks.

Responsibilities

• Optical Strategist: translate emerging technologies into deployable architecture and standards.
• Architectural Recommendations: roadmaps, reference architectures, lifecycle planning, interoperability.
• Visionary: define 1–3 year future optical network plans and realizations.
• Original Mindset: challenge status quo and pursue innovative solutions.
• AI-Enabled Innovation: apply AI tools to research, analytics, automation, modeling, decision support.
• Standards participation: engage with MSAs, IEEE, OIF, Open ROADM, etc.
• Data Mining and Trending Analytics: extract network data and present demands.
• Financial Model Derivation: fluent in TCO, ROI, NPV, and cost forecasting.
• Business Case Development: justify architectures with solid business cases.
• Automation Vision: craft automation roadmap for Optical Product line.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Technical leadership

C-level communication

Product introduction leadership

SQL

Power BI

AI/ML awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical/optical/telecom engineering or 5-7+ years experience

MBA or 5-7+ years experience in financial modeling

Tools

SQL

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Lumen is seeking a Senior Lead Architect to drive bold, scalable AI‑ready connectivity strategies. You’ll shape architectural solutions across optical networks, lead cross‑functional teams, and translate complex requirements into future‑proof designs that deliver measurable business impact.

You’ll influence the organization’s strategic vision, engage with standards bodies, and mentor others while delivering high‑impact initiatives across multiple business units in a remote US role.