Senior lead technical program manager

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

Lumen is seeking a Senior Lead Technical Program Manager to join the Network Architecture and Engineering organization. In this highly visible role, you will lead complex programs that strengthen network security, modernize infrastructure, manage technology lifecycles, and advance engineering excellence across the enterprise.

You will translate sophisticated technical challenges into executable programs. Success requires broad network fluency, strong technical program leadership, and the ability to bring structure to ambiguous situations.

This is an opportunity to solve consequential technology challenges at scale. You will connect strategy with execution, anticipate who needs to be involved, and organize complex work into coordinated projects that deliver measurable outcomes across Lumen’s network environment.

Location

This is a remote opportunity open to candidates located anywhere in the U.S.

The Main Responsibilities

• Lead the complex, high-impact network programs from early problem definition and strategy through implementation, stabilization, and operational handoff.
• Create integrated execution frameworks when scope, ownership, solution approach, funding, or sequencing is not yet fully defined.
• Orchestrate multiple programs or workstreams with enterprise dependencies, competing priorities, material risks, and senior leadership visibility.
• Establish governance, decision rights, operating rhythms, success measures, and executive review processes appropriate to the initiative.
• Drive cross-domain sequencing and readiness across architecture, design, build, lab, test, change, deployment, service readiness, and operations.
• Identify systemic constraints, organizational gaps, and portfolio-level dependencies that may not be visible within individual workstreams.
• Anticipate strategic, technical, operational, financial, vendor, and organizational risks before they become delivery failures.
• Mentor project and program managers; improve organizational standards for delivery discipline, governance, and executive communication.
• Champion scalable AI-enabled and automated workflows that improve portfolio governance, predictability, engineering productivity, and organizational learning.

What We Look For in a Candidate

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible program management experience supporting complex technical, network, engineering, infrastructure, or transformation initiatives.
• Broad understanding of telecommunications networks, including the interaction of network hardware, software, infrastructure, planning, deployment, lifecycle management, and operations.
• Demonstrated experience translating ambiguous technical or strategic objectives into executable plans, coordinated workstreams, governance models, and measurable outcomes.
• Experience leading multiple interdependent initiatives and resolving cross-functional risks, resource constraints, sequencing challenges, and competing priorities.
• Ability to work credibly across technical and business teams, including Architecture, Engineering, Planning, Operations, Security, IT, Product, Finance, and executive leadership.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, influence, analytical thinking, problem-solving, and executive decision-support skills.
• Experience using Jira and related portfolio, reporting, documentation, or analytics tools to manage milestones, dependencies, risks, decisions, and delivery evidence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading network vulnerability remediation, equipment replacement, software deployment, or technology lifecycle programs.
• Experience working across network domains such as IP, optical, transport, Ethernet, edge, security, cloud connectivity, facilities, service delivery, or operations.
• Experience coordinating planning, testing, change management, deployment readiness, service migration, and operational handoff.
• Familiarity with emerging technology risks, including the potential implications of AI and quantum technologies for network security.
• Experience with capital planning, vendor dependencies, investment trade-offs, benefits realization, or enterprise portfolio governance.
• Demonstrated experience applying responsible AI and automation to program analysis, risk sensing, planning, reporting, knowledge retrieval, or organizational execution.
• Project Management Professional certification or comparable program management credential.

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

• $132,232 - $176,310 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
• $138,844 - $185,124 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI
• $145,456 - $193,940 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.