Principal Technical Program Manager

About Lumen

Lumen connects the world. We are igniting business growth by connecting people, data and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Together, we are building a culture and company from the people up – committed to teamwork, trust and transparency. People power progress.

Lumen’s commitment to workplace inclusion and employee support shines bright. We’ve made the Newsweek 2024 Greatest Workplaces for Diversity list and achieved a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for the fifth consecutive year. Plus, we’re the top employer in the communications and telecom industry, ranking 12th overall across all industries in The American Opportunity Index.

We’re looking for top-tier talent and offer the flexibility you need to thrive and deliver lasting impact. Join us as we digitally connect the world and shape the future.

The Role

We are seeking a Principal Technical Program Manager (TPM) to lead the execution of complex, high-impact programs while driving strategic alignment, operational efficiency, and organizational transparency. This role requires a hands-on leader who can set up an end-to-end measurement, KPI, and communication framework for program managers across the organization, ensuring consistent tracking, reporting, and delivery excellence.

The ideal candidate is a fast-moving, detail-oriented executor with the ability to manage complex projects, oversee other program managers, and engage with stakeholders at all levels. You should excel at bridging technical and business objectives, providing executive insights, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Location

This is an US work from home position.

The Main Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Delivery:
o    Drive large-scale, technical programs to completion, aligning business, technical, and operational goals across teams.
o    Oversee a portfolio of initiatives, ensuring all timelines, dependencies, and deliverables are synchronized.
o    Manage and mentor project/program managers, ensuring consistency and excellence across the organization.
Measurement, KPI, and Communication Frameworks:
o    Establish a unified framework for tracking and measuring success across all programs, focusing on velocity, quality, cost efficiency, and impact.
o    Define KPIs and metrics for teams, ensuring clear alignment with organizational objectives.
o    Set up automated dashboards and tools to provide real-time visibility into project status, risks, and outcomes.
o    Ensure standardized reporting mechanisms are in place, enabling consistent communication across the organization.
•    Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication:
o    Act as the central communication hub between engineering, operations, and executive teams.
o    Tailor communication to the audience, from highly technical updates for engineers to strategic insights for executives.
o    Surface risks early with actionable mitigation plans, fostering trust and transparency with all stakeholders.
Execution & Quality Assurance:
o    Ensure thoughtful business and functional requirements are gathered, documented, and translated into actionable technical specifications.
o    Coordinate with QA teams to ensure rigorous testing and validation, achieving high-quality outcomes.
o    Track and analyze metrics such as code quality, bug rates, fallout, and delivery predictability to continuously improve team performance.
Cost & Resource Management:
o    Manage budgets across complex projects, tracking costs, ROI, and resource allocation.
o    Optimize processes to reduce waste and drive cost savings without compromising timelines or quality.
Modern Tooling & Automation:
o    Implement collaboration and reporting tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, Notion) to streamline workflows and ensure real-time updates.
o    Eliminate outdated practices like PowerPoint in favor of automated, data-driven reporting.

What We Look For in a Candidate

 Program Leadership:

• Proven ability to lead complex technical programs with multiple stakeholders and cross-functional dependencies.
• Experience managing and mentoring program/project managers to deliver consistent, high-quality results.

Framework Development:

• Expertise in designing and implementing measurement systems, KPI frameworks, and communication strategies for large teams or organizations.
• Ability to set up real-time dashboards using tools like Tableau, Looker, or similar visualization platforms.
• Technical Fluency:
  • Strong understanding of modern software development practices, including CI/CD, DevOps, and agile methodologies.
  • Ability to collaborate deeply with engineering teams on technical challenges while providing clarity for non-technical stakeholders.

Analytical Mindset:

• Data-driven approach to measuring and improving team performance through metrics like velocity, quality, and fallout.
• Proficiency in using data to surface risks, optimize processes, and drive accountability.

Cost & Resource Management:

• Demonstrated experience managing budgets across multiple projects, ensuring cost efficiency and ROI.
• Strong organizational skills to prioritize resources effectively across competing initiatives.

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

$149,084 - $198,779 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  
$156,539 - $208,718 in these states: CO  HI  MI  MN  NC  NH  NV  OR  RI  
$163,993 - $218,657 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:

Benefits

Bonus Structure

Requisition #: 336390

Background Screening

If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page. Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Equal Employment Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.

Disclaimer

The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Please be advised that Lumen does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Lumen, they are not for employment with us, but may relate to another company with a similar name.