Staff Applied AI Scientist
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.
Role Overview
Lumen is seeking an accomplished Staff Applied AI Scientist to serve as a technical leader and strategic advisor for enterprise AI transformation initiatives. In this role, you will define AI strategy, influence and develop enterprise architecture, drive innovation, and deliver scalable AI solutions that create significant business impact across Lumen.
You will combine world-class expertise in artificial intelligence, applied research, product strategy, and technical leadership to shape the future of AI adoption across the company. The ideal candidate is a recognized expert capable of leading highly complex initiatives, establishing technical direction, and influencing executive stakeholders while remaining hands-on with critical solution design and technical decision-making.
What You'll Do
- Define and drive technical strategy for enterprise AI capabilities, platforms, and solution architectures.
- Lead the design and deployment of large-scale AI systems across multiple business domains.
- Partner with executive leaders to identify transformative AI opportunities aligned to business strategy.
- Architect advanced AI solutions leveraging generative AI, agentic systems, machine learning, predictive modeling, knowledge retrieval, and emerging AI technologies.
- Establish enterprise standards for AI evaluation, governance, responsible AI, reliability, performance, and operational excellence.
- Lead highly complex, cross-functional AI initiatives involving product, engineering, technology, security, legal, and business stakeholders.
- Serve as a thought leader and trusted advisor on AI strategy, innovation, and industry best practices.
- Influence AI platform direction, technical roadmaps, tooling, and investment priorities.
- Mentor senior scientists and engineers while helping develop organizational AI capabilities.
- Represent Lumen externally through industry events, partnerships, publications, research collaborations, or thought leadership opportunities.
Required Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience in applied AI, machine learning, data science, or related technical disciplines.
- Proven track record delivering enterprise-scale AI solutions with measurable business impact.
- Deep expertise in machine learning, generative AI, LLMs, RAG architectures, agentic systems, experimentation, and AI product development.
- Demonstrated experience defining AI strategy and influencing executive-level decision making.
- Extensive experience designing production AI systems that operate at scale.
- Expertise in AI governance, Responsible AI, model evaluation, observability, and operational excellence.
- Advanced proficiency with modern AI frameworks, cloud AI platforms, software architecture, and engineering best practices.
- Exceptional communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence technical and business audiences.
Preferred Qualifications
- PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Statistics, or a related technical discipline.
- Recognized expertise through publications, patents, conference presentations, industry leadership, or open-source contributions.
- Experience leading enterprise AI Centers of Excellence or AI transformation programs.
- Experience operating AI solutions within highly regulated, security-sensitive, or complex enterprise environments.
- Experience managing multi-million-dollar AI initiatives or portfolios
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 - $253,444 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 - $266,116 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI
$167,273 - $278,789 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 #: 343394
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 collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes.
Our Lumen 8 behaviors guide how we interact, make decisions, and work together, shaping a culture built to perform and win.
To learn more about Life at Lumen and how we live the Lumen 8, please visit:
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.
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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.
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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.