Principal Product Manager, Data Center Networks (Remote, US)

About this role

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:BenefitsBonus Structure

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…