Job description

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high‑performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities. At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter. This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. The work is challenging, expectations are clear, and trust is built into how we operate. If you’re ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI‑ready connectivity, join us today. The Role We are seeking a Principal Product Manager to shape the architecture and expansion strategy for our data center metro networks. This highly visible, internal-facing role combines product leadership, technical diligence, and program execution to ensure network investments deliver meaningful business value. You will own the roadmap for internal network products that enable external services, evaluate whether proposed expansion efforts offer the right technical solution and expected return, and lead cross-functional teams through delivery. Success requires deep metro network expertise, strong financial and analytical judgment, and the ability to turn complex technical decisions into clear, actionable recommendations. Location This is a remote opportunity open to candidates located anywhere in the U.S. The Main Responsibilities • Own the product strategy, requirements, and multi-year architectural roadmap for data center metro network solutions and expansion programs. • Translate topology, diversity, capacity, transport, optical-layer, and point-of-presence decisions into repeatable configurations and reference designs. • Lead cross-functional expansion programs from evaluation through delivery, coordinating teams, dependencies, milestones, risks, and executive status reporting. • Evaluate proposed network investments using demand, utilization, capital efficiency, revenue potential, and return-on-investment analysis. • Establish a consistent framework for prioritizing, approving, deferring, or redesigning metro network upgrades and expansion efforts. • Build demand models that combine contracted demand, pipeline, market signals, customer architecture plans, and forecast scenarios. • Assess whether existing internal products and architectural solutions remain the right platforms for future growth, including lower-cost alternatives and associated trade-offs. • Partner with Product, Network Planning, Engineering, Finance, Operations, Service Delivery, and Sales to drive decisions and execution. What We Look For in a Candidate • 8-10+ years of experience in product management, program management, network planning, or network engineering. • 3+ years of experience supporting metro, data center, optical, packet transport, or related network infrastructure. • Strong knowledge of metro network architecture, including ring and mesh topologies, route and fiber diversity, point-of-presence and colocation siting, and protection and restoration strategies. • Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional technical programs through planning, decision-making, and delivery. • Ability to build and defend quantitative demand, investment, and return-on-investment models using incomplete or evolving data. • Understanding of capital economics, including capital and operating expense trade-offs, payback, internal rate of return, utilization, and unit cost. • Experience translating complex technical and financial analysis into concise, decision-ready recommendations for senior leaders. • Ability to influence across Product, Engineering, Planning, Finance, Operations, and Sales in a matrixed environment. Preferred Qualifications • Experience with metro fiber, conduit builds, data center expansion programs, or carrier network infrastructure. • Familiarity with hyperscaler, neocloud, cloud, or AI infrastructure demand patterns. • Experience evaluating internal network platforms that support the development and delivery of external services. • Advanced modeling experience in Excel and experience with Power BI, SQL, Python, or another analytical or visualization environment. • Knowledge of reliability engineering, availability targets, failure-mode analysis, and service-level design requirements. • Experience developing product roadmaps, reference architectures, lifecycle policies, and investment prioritization frameworks. • MBA, engineering degree, or an equivalent combination of technical and commercial experience. Compensation This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors. Location Based Pay Ranges $152,066 - $202,755 in these states: AL AR AZ FL GA IA ID IN KS KY LA ME MO MS MT ND NE NM OH OK PA SC SD TN UT VT WI WV WY $159,670 - $212,893 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI $167,273 - $223,031 in these states: AK CA CT DC DE IL MA MD NJ NY TX VA WA Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process. Learn more about Lumen's: Benefits Bonus Structure #LI-Remote Requisition #: 343610 Life at Lumen Life at Lumen is human and connected, even in a fast moving, AI‑focused organization. We set clear expectations and trust people to meet them. With real support and shared accountability, teams collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes. Our Lumen 8 behaviors guide how we interact, make decisions, and work together, shaping a culture built to perform and win. To learn more about Life at Lumen and how we live the Lumen 8, please visit: jobs.lumen.com Background Screening If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page . Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Equal Employment Opportunities We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training. Privacy Notice Lumen is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected during the recruitment and hiring process. Our Applicant Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect applicant information, as well as how individuals may request access to or deletion of their personal data. To review Lumen’s Global Employment Applicant and Talent Community Privacy Notice, please visit: jobs.lumen.com Disclaimer The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions. In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information. Please be advised that Lumen does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Lumen, they are not for employment with us, but may relate to another company with a similar name.

Requirements

Must-haves

At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter.
This is a remote opportunity open to candidates located anywhere in the U.S.
The Main Responsibilities
Own the product strategy, requirements, and multi-year architectural roadmap for data center metro network solutions and expansion programs.
Translate topology, diversity, capacity, transport, optical-layer, and point-of-presence decisions into repeatable configurations and reference designs.
Lead cross-functional expansion programs from evaluation through delivery, coordinating teams, dependencies, milestones, risks, and executive status reporting.
Evaluate proposed network investments using demand, utilization, capital efficiency, revenue potential, and return-on-investment analysis.
Establish a consistent framework for prioritizing, approving, deferring, or redesigning metro network upgrades and expansion efforts.
Build demand models that combine contracted demand, pipeline, market signals, customer architecture plans, and forecast scenarios.
Assess whether existing internal products and architectural solutions remain the right platforms for future growth, including lower-cost alternatives and associated trade-offs.
Partner with Product, Network Planning, Engineering, Finance, Operations, Service Delivery, and Sales to drive decisions and execution.
What We Look For in a Candidate
8-10+ years of experience in product management, program management, network planning, or network engineering.
3+ years of experience supporting metro, data center, optical, packet transport, or related network infrastructure.
Strong knowledge of metro network architecture, including ring and mesh topologies, route and fiber diversity, point-of-presence and colocation siting, and protection and restoration strategies.
Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional technical programs through planning, decision-making, and delivery.
Ability to build and defend quantitative demand, investment, and return-on-investment models using incomplete or evolving data.

Nice-to-haves

Experience with metro fiber, conduit builds, data center expansion programs, or carrier network infrastructure.
Familiarity with hyperscaler, neocloud, cloud, or AI infrastructure demand patterns.
Experience evaluating internal network platforms that support the development and delivery of external services.
Advanced modeling experience in Excel and experience with Power BI, SQL, Python, or another analytical or visualization environment.
Knowledge of reliability engineering, availability targets, failure-mode analysis, and service-level design requirements.
Experience developing product roadmaps, reference architectures, lifecycle policies, and investment prioritization frameworks.
MBA, engineering degree, or an equivalent combination of technical and commercial experience.

Application prep

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