Senior Lead Optical Architect for AI-Ready Networks

Lumen; Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 132,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Bonus program

Life insurance

Job summary

Lumen is seeking a Senior Lead Architect to drive AI-ready connectivity strategies and optical product architectures from a trusted, high-accountability team. You will translate emerging technologies into scalable solutions, lead complex initiatives across units, and influence business outcomes.

The role emphasizes architectural leadership, standards development, and data-driven decision support in a remote-friendly environment within the US.

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

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

Data analytics

C-level communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or telecommunications

MBA or equivalent financial modeling experience

5-7+ years of equivalent experience

Tools

SQL

Power BI

Job description

Lumen is seeking a Senior Lead Architect to drive AI-ready connectivity strategies and optical product architectures from a trusted, high-accountability team. You will translate emerging technologies into scalable solutions, lead complex initiatives across units, and influence business outcomes.

The role emphasizes architectural leadership, standards development, and data-driven decision support in a remote-friendly environment within the US.