Lead Network Engineer

## Lead Network Engineer DENVER, Colorado, USAApply Now Find out how well you match with this jobJob :
343446

Date posted:
10/09/2026

Application Deadline:
10/13/2026

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 highly skilled Lead Network Engineer to lead the testing, validation, and qualification of Metro Ethernet and optical transport solutions in a lab environment. This role serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Metro Ethernet, transport optics, multi-vendor interoperability, and network performance validation. The ideal candidate will partner with Lumen architects, engineering teams, and technology vendors to validate requirements, ensure compliance with engineering standards, and certify solutions for production deployment.

The candidate will be responsible for developing and executing test plans, defining validation methodologies, analyzing test results, and providing technical recommendations to stakeholders. The candidate will also collaborate with automation engineers to develop scalable automated test suites supporting functional, performance, interoperability, and regression testing, while ensuring solutions meet Lumen's quality, reliability, and deployment readiness standards.

This is a hybrid role working part time out of our lab on Zuni St. in Denver, CO.##
** The Main Responsibilities
*** Maniacal focus on a customer obsessed culture with every team member being comfortable being uncomfortable as bold innovations position Lumen for continue industry-firsts
* Be customer obsessed and be vulnerable – be willing to learn from employees and customers to operationalize innovative technologies that deliver the best-connected experience.
* Demonstrated high command for the skills and technology related to Core & Access equipment (OSI model, IP, Routing, Switching, Security, ITU standards, RFCs, etc.)
* Subject Matter Expert level experience with Ethernet, IP Routing, MPLS, BGP, IS-IS, LLDP, Layer 2/3 services, Ethernet Transport, Dark/Grey Fiber.
* Strong testing experience and understanding of Fiber modes & Optical Test methodologies (SMF/MMF/DWDM/CWDM/Dark Fiber/Grey Fiber/SFP/QSFP)
* Experience with API testing, network automation, server deployment, Linux administration, and scripting using Python, Power Shell, and Bash.
* Experience using Spirent, Keysight, Calient, and other carrier-grade network test platforms.
* Able to design & Implement test cases and build test plans
* History of troubleshooting defects to identify a root cause
* Clear and concise communicator, written and verbal
* Understanding of testing methodologies such as Waterfall, Agile, and Dev Ops
* Atlassian Jira experience##
** What We Look For in a Candidate
*** BS in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunications, or related field required or equivalent work experience
* MS in same fields preferred or equivalent work experience
* 5+ years of experience in Computer Networking
* 5+ years of experience in Testing/Troubleshooting
* Extensive…