Solution Architect

Position: SOLUTION ARCHITECT Lumen is the trusted network for AI. We’re transforming how businesses connect, secure, and scale in an AI-driven world.By connecting people, data, and applications quickly, securely, and effortlessly, we help organizations move faster and unlock what’s next.At Lumen, people power progress. Our culture is built on teamwork, trust, and transparency, giving you the flexibility, support, and opportunity to make a lasting impact. We’re looking for top-tier talent ready to take on the challenge. Join us in building the future.The RoleLumen Solution Architects work in partnership with our Sales & Customer Success Teams to identify and develop opportunities / solutions to drive customers’ desired business outcomes. You will lead technology innovation through discovery conversations, apply technical and industry expertise, and translate complex requirements into tailored solutions. Acting as a trusted advisor, you will showcase best practices and demonstrate how our offerings enable customers to achieve their goals.LocationThe professional in this position should reside in one of these states: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin.The Main ResponsibilitiesActs as customer advocate by identifying business and technology objectives, leading technical discovery, and driving pre-sales activities—including solution design, demos, workshops, and RFP/RFI responses—to architect impactful client solutions.Demonstrates advanced discovery and solution selling abilities.Crafts highly complex and custom designs to provide an integrated solution that differentiates Lumen’s services and drives customers’ desired outcomes.Designs involving high-capacity fiber, wavelength services, data center interconnect, IP transit, DIA, edge compute, network security, cloud connectivity, SASE/SD-WAN, Network-as-a-Service (NaaS), and Ethernet networking.Prepares and delivers clear, engaging, technical proposals, architectural diagrams, and presentations with the appropriate level of business acumen for the audience. Engages with customers to deliver on outcome selling initiatives.Collaborate with Sales and Customer Success to help build and shape pipeline, engage with broader Eco Teams to align customer designs with Lumen capabilities.Serve as trusted advisor - ability to build trust and rapport with technical stakeholders.Provides actionable feedback to product management, sales, and customer success teams on business value, product capabilities, and service execution.What We Look For in a CandidateProven experience in solution engineering, pre-sales, or technical consulting within cloud, data center, or SaaS environments, with a progressive track record of increasing levels of solution complexity and responsibility.Strong knowledge of cloud platforms, SaaS environments, data center, and modern infrastructure capacity needsExperience designing solutions that support AI/ML use cases, high-performance workloads, multi-cloud solutions, and data-driven architecture.Ability to map customers challenges technical solutions and clearly articulates the business impact.Ability to lead & engage in complex deal discussions with internal ecosystem, driving solutions & outcomes with sales, customer success, partners.Excellent presentation skills as well as the ability to build and present high-quality solutions to both technical and executive audiences.Expert problem-solving skills and ability to methodically understand and resolve complex issues across multiple products to integrate into a seamless customer solution.Highly proactive, consultative, creative, and positive with a can-do attitude.Strong verbal, and written communicationFundamental understanding in Security solutionsIndustry certificationsB.S. Degree in a related field or equivalent work experience in the private sector or militaryTravel required – Estimated 10% , Largely Central USACompensationThis 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:$118,079 -…