Solution Engineer - Data Center

Lumen Technologies is seeking a highly skilled Solution Engineer to join our Pre-Sales Solution Engineering team, focusing on identifying, scoping, designing, and selling fiber infrastructure and network fabric solutions to data center developers, owners, and operators. This role will support data center and cloud infrastructure companies as they expand their networks to meet the demands of AI workloads. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in optical architectures, fiber planning and installation, network fabrics, and the space, power, and cooling requirements critical to operating data center environments.

As a Solution Engineer, you will collaborate with sales, product, and engineering teams, as well as numerous data center partners, to develop tailored solutions, provide pre-sales technical support, and drive innovation to position Lumen as a leader in next-generation data center network infrastructure.

Solution Design & Innovation:

• Design and architect customized network architectures to meet the unique needs of data center owners, operators, and developers.
• Innovate optical architectures, network fabrics, and fiber-based solutions to enhance performance, scalability, and efficiency for AI-driven workloads.
• Develop detailed designs for fiber planning, installation, and integration, ensuring alignment with customer requirements and Lumen's network capabilities.
• Assist with the design, development, and positioning of scalable network fabric and architectures within data center environments.

Pre-Sales Support:

• Partner with sales teams to engage with customers, understand their technical and business needs, and articulate the value of Lumen's fiber and network fabric solutions.
• Deliver compelling presentations, technical proposals, and proof-of-concept demonstrations to showcase solution capabilities.
• Respond to RFPs, RFIs, and customer inquiries with detailed, accurate, and competitive solution designs.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor to customers, guiding them through the solution lifecycle from concept to contract.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Support:

• Work closely with product management and the data center partner community to provide feedback on market needs and drive the development of new network fabric and data center offerings.
• Collaborate with network engineering and operations teams to ensure a seamless transition from pre-sales design to implementation.
• Stay informed on industry trends, data center requirements, and emerging technologies to inform solution strategies.

Technical Leadership:

• Serve as a subject matter expert in data center architecture, fiber plant design, optical networking, and scaling network fabrics to meet the demands of AI-driven workloads.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to knowledge-sharing initiatives to elevate team expertise.

• Experience with micro edge data center deployments, including modular or containerized solutions.
• Familiarity with sustainability practices in network infrastructure, such as energy-efficient cooling and power systems.
• Certifications in optical networking (e.g., Ciena, Nokia, or Cisco) or data center design (e.g., CDCP, Uptime Institute) are a plus.
• Knowledge of Lumen's fiber network and service portfolio.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent years of experience
• Seven plus years of experience in solution architecture, pre-sales engineering, or network design, with a focus on data center architectures and fiber infrastructure.
• Proven track record of working with data center operators or cloud providers on large-scale network deployments.
• Experience designing fiber outside plant and data center multi-tenant network fabric architectures is highly desirable.
• Deep knowledge of optical networking technologies and data center network fabrics.
• Expertise in fiber planning, installation, and testing processes, including loss budgets and dispersion management.
• Strong understanding of space, power, and cooling requirements for data centers and HCI environments.
• Familiarity with AI-driven network architectures and their impact on fiber and data center infrastructure.
• Proficiency in network design tools (e.g., Ciena Blue Planet, Nokia NSP, or similar) and simulation software.
• Knowledge of industry standards (e.g., ITU-T, IEEE, Telcordia) and best practices for optical and edge deployments.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value for diverse audiences.
• Strong customer-facing skills, with a consultative approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with a focus on delivering high-quality solutions on time.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% for customer meetings, site visits, and industry events.
• Ability to work flexible hours to accommodate customer needs across time zones.

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:

$99,225 - $132,300 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, and WY.
$104,192 - $138,915 in these states: CO, HI, MI, MN, NC, NH, NV, OR, and RI.
$109,148 - $145,530 in these states: AK, CA, CT, DC, DE, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, TX, VA, and 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

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