Senior Manager Network Engineering, Lab Infrastructure and Test Engineering
About The Position
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 As a Senior Manager, Network Engineering (Lab & Test), you will lead a team responsible for designing, building, and operating large-scale physical lab environments and test infrastructure that support network platform development, validation, and deployment. Your team will enable engineering and product organizations to test and validate critical systems through robust, production-representative lab environments. This role requires deep expertise in network hardware, lab environments, and hands-on systems integration, combined with strong leadership and operational excellence.
Requirements
- Bachelors degree in a relevant field (cloud engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, etc.)
- 10+ years of experience in network engineering, systems engineering, or lab/test environments
- Deep expertise in: IP networking and routing architectures
- Deep expertise in: Network hardware (routers, switches, optical systems)
- Deep expertise in: Linux systems and infrastructure
- Strong experience with: Lab environments (design, operations, and troubleshooting)
- Strong experience with: Hardware integration and system-level testing
- Strong experience with: Network validation and test frameworks
- Ability to translate complex technical environments into clear operational and business decisions
- Strong leadership experience managing engineering teams in hands-on infrastructure environments
Nice To Haves
- Experience with large-scale test labs or data center environments
- Familiar with Keysight, Spirent, Ixia, TraceSpan, Viavi equipment
- Exposure to network certification, interoperability testing, or QA programs
- Familiarity with automation tools (Ansible, Python) for lab management
- Strong problem-solving skills in highly complex, hardware-centric environments
- Proven ability to operate in fast-paced, high-change engineering organizations
Responsibilities
- Lead a team of engineers responsible for lab design, build-out, and ongoing operation of network and systems test environments
- Own hardware lifecycle management, including procurement, installation, inventory, and decommissioning of lab equipment
- Design and maintain production-representative test environments across IP networks, optical systems, and compute platforms
- Lead system integration testing, validation, and certification efforts for new platforms, upgrades, and infrastructure changes
- Oversee fixed access and broadband device testing for xDSL, GPON, XGS-PON, G.Fast, G.hn, DSLAMs, OLTs, ONTs, SmartNID, residential gateways, and related hardware/software solutions
- Drive manual and automated test execution, results tracking, defect identification, and validation processes to support high-quality broadband and high-speed internet services
- Lead Proof of Concept, Development, and QA testing of next-generation access initiatives, including enterprise NID solutions, Digital Twin/RTO requirements, Ops Cloud enablement, and broader network modernization efforts
- Partner with engineering teams to ensure test coverage, reliability, and repeatability across lab environments
- Drive lab reliability, capacity planning, and resource allocation across multiple teams and programs
- Establish and enforce lab governance, standards, and operational processes
- Simplify complex engineering and testing workflows into scalable operational models
- Partner cross-functionally with product, engineering, and operations to align on testing priorities and timelines
- Develop talent and build a culture of accountability, ownership, and technical excellence
Benefits
- Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing.
- Bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
