Senior Lead Solution Architect (Remote, US)

Join CenturyLink as a Senior Lead Solution Architect in a full-time position based in the United States, where you'll drive strategic technical initiatives and shape how the organization builds scalable cloud infrastructure.

Role Overview

This role centers on defining and maintaining the technical blueprints that guide the company's cloud strategy. As a Senior Lead Solution Architect, you'll establish standardized approaches to cloud infrastructure, applications, and data integration while embedding financial accountability into every design decision. Your work influences cross-functional teams and executive leadership, translating complex technical requirements into actionable architectural guidance that balances innovation with cost efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, document, and govern approved cloud and application architecture standards across platform infrastructure, application domains, data systems, and integration workflows
• Develop cost models paired with each architectural pattern, outlining baseline assumptions, scalability parameters, cost drivers, and projected unit economics
• Integrate financial awareness as a core architectural principle from initial design through execution, ensuring teams make cost-informed technical decisions
• Collaborate with engineering and platform teams to align workload requirements with the most cost-efficient architectural choices available
• Leverage FinOps methodologies to support accurate forecasting, budgeting, and commitment-based cost optimization strategies such as savings plans and reservations
• Participate in architecture review boards and governance processes to evaluate technical decisions against cost, value, and financial impact criteria
• Prepare comparative analyses and architecture decision documents that enable leadership to make informed investment choices
• Advance adoption of standardized patterns through direct enablement, comprehensive documentation, and ongoing team guidance
• Monitor cloud services, pricing models, and optimization opportunities to keep architectural guidance current and competitive

What We're Looking For

• Minimum 10 years of hands-on experience in cloud architecture, platform engineering, and application design with demonstrated influence at the senior level
• Proven track record designing, implementing, and governing multi-cloud environments at enterprise scale across both platform and application layers
• Deep expertise in cost-aware architecture design, cloud economic models, and real-world FinOps implementation
• Documented success defining architectural standards and driving organizational adoption of reference architecture patterns
• Strong communication and influence skills across technical leaders and business executives

Preferred Qualifications:

• FinOps Certified Practitioner (FCP) credential
• TOGAF certification or comparable enterprise architecture framework background
• Professional-level cloud architect certifications including AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect
• Background working with Enterprise Architecture teams, Cloud Centers of Excellence, or formal Architecture Review Boards
• Experience managing large-scale cloud financial operations, forecasting initiatives, and optimization programs

Why Join CenturyLink

This position offers the opportunity to shape architectural direction at an enterprise level. You'll have direct input on technical standards influencing development teams across the organization. If you're an experienced architect seeking meaningful impact on infrastructure decisions and deeper integration of financial accountability into technical design, this role combines significant influence, autonomy, and the ability to guide enterprise-scale cloud transformation.

Apply Today

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