Principal Architect

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

In a culture built on accountability, trust, and bold thinking, the Principal Architect, Cloud FinOps, plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI‑ready connectivity. Working at the intersection of innovation and impact, this leader thrives in an environment where challenging work is embraced, expectations are clear, and meaningful contributions drive lasting value for customers, partners, and the industry.

As the enterprise’s technical authority for FinOps architecture, cloud economics, and financial governance, the Principal Architect leads the design of cost‑aware cloud strategies across a complex multi‑cloud ecosystem. By combining deep technical expertise with strategic business insight, this individual helps ensure that every cloud investment delivers measurable outcomes while supporting performance, scalability, resiliency, and security.

Partnering closely with Engineering, Enterprise Architecture, Finance, Cloud Platform teams, Strategic Sourcing, Product organizations, and Executive Leadership, the Principal Architect brings people and ideas together to solve complex challenges. Through collaboration and influence, they champion a shared vision of financial accountability and operational excellence across the cloud landscape.

Their impact extends beyond architecture design. By establishing enterprise standards, cloud consumption guardrails, unit economics frameworks, commitment optimization strategies, and migration blueprints, they create a foundation that empowers teams to innovate with confidence. Every decision is guided by a commitment to delivering business value, enabling sustainable growth, and helping the organization stay ahead in an increasingly connected, AI‑driven world.

Location

This is a work from home position within the US.

The Main Responsibilities

Define and govern multi‑cloud architecture standards across Azure, AWS, and GCP. Develop reusable reference architectures, solution patterns, and governance frameworks. Lead architecture reviews for cloud transformation, modernization, and strategic initiatives while embedding financial accountability into design decisions.

Integrate cost optimization into architecture and engineering practices. Establish cost‑aware patterns for compute, storage, networking, AI/ML, Kubernetes, databases, and SaaS platforms. Develop unit economics, chargeback/showback models, cloud costing methodologies, and enterprise FinOps maturity programs.

Lead application rationalization, cloud migration, and platform modernization efforts. Identify savings through rightsizing, scheduling, architectural improvements, consolidation, and commitment‑based discounts. Implement financial guardrails, policy‑as‑code, and workload placement strategies that improve cost efficiency.

Define standards for cloud consumption, tagging, allocation, lifecycle management, and capacity planning. Ensure alignment with security, compliance, operational, and risk management requirements while participating in architecture and FinOps governance forums.

Partner with engineering teams to automate cost controls, budget management, policy enforcement, optimization recommendations, and reporting. Support FinOps platforms, dashboards, operational tooling, and promote Infrastructure‑as‑Code (IaC) and FinOps‑as‑Code practices.

Present architecture strategies, cloud economics recommendations, and optimization roadmaps to senior leadership. Develop business cases, ROI analyses, TCO assessments, and cloud investment strategies. Mentor architects, engineers, and FinOps practitioners while driving enterprise‑wide cloud financial accountability.

What We Look For in a Candidate

• 12+ years of enterprise architecture, cloud architecture, or technology strategy experience, 8+ years of public cloud experience across Azure, AWS, and/or Google Cloud Platform and 5+ years of FinOps, cloud economics, cloud governance, or cost optimization experience.
• Proven experience influencing executive stakeholders and enterprise architecture decisions.

Technical Expertise

• Enterprise architecture frameworks and governance and cloud economics, financial management. and FinOps operating models and unit economics and allocation methodologies.
• Cloud migration strategies and kubernetes, container platforms, infrastructure‑as‑Code (Terraform, Bicep, CloudFormation) and cost management platforms (Flexera, CloudHealth, Apptio Cloudability, native CSP tooling) and AI/ML platform architecture and cost optimization.

Business Acumen

Financial modeling and forecasting, budget management, executive communications, business capability mapping.and strategic planning

Required Certifications

Candidates must possess at least one advanced FinOps certification and one major cloud architecture certification.

FinOps Certifications (Requred)

• One or more of:
• Cloud Architecture Certifications (Required)
• One or more of:
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
• Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert
• Google Professional Cloud Architect

Preferred Certifications

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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