Principal Engineer - Database Platform Engineering & SRE

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.
Principal Engineer – Database Platform Engineering & SRE
The Principal Engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for driving the transformation of Lumen's database organization from a traditional operations-focused model to a modern Platform Engineering and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) operating model.
This role focuses on standardization, automation, operational excellence, reliability, toil reduction, lifecycle management, observability, and continuous improvement across the existing database estate. The Principal Engineer will lead initiatives that reduce operational complexity, improve service reliability, accelerate cloud readiness, and increase engineering productivity through automation and process optimization.
Location
This role is designated as a fully remote position within the United States.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Transformation & SRE Enablement
Lead the transformation of DBA teams toward Platform Engineering and SRE practices.
Drive adoption of automation-first and reliability-focused operating models.
Develop engineering standards, operational processes, and best practices that improve consistency and scale.
Toil Reduction & Continuous Improvement
Identify and eliminate repetitive manual activities across database operations.
Analyze ServiceNow incidents, requests, and recurring work patterns to identify automation and optimization opportunities.
Drive reductions in ticket volume, operational overhead, and technical debt.
Platform Standardization & Cloud Readiness
Lead brownfield modernization, standardization, and simplification initiatives across database platforms.
Improve operational consistency, platform resiliency, and migration readiness.
Establish reusable engineering patterns that support modernization and cloud adoption initiatives.
Automation & Engineering Excellence
Establish automation frameworks, standards, governance, and reusable engineering capabilities.
Drive Operational automation initiatives.
Improve provisioning, patching, upgrades, compliance remediation, and operational workflows through automation.
Reliability Engineering & Observability
Establish proactive monitoring, observability, and performance management practices.
Drive improvements in platform reliability, availability, resiliency, and operational health.
Lead initiatives focused on performance optimization, capacity management, and operational risk reduction.
Lifecycle Management
Develop scalable approaches for patching, upgrades, platform currency, and lifecycle management.
Improve compliance with security, supportability, and operational standards.
Technical Leadership
Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance across engineering and operational teams.
Partner with Operations, Security, Cloud, and Architecture teams to operationalize transformation initiatives.
Promote a culture of continuous improvement, engineering excellence, and operational discipline.
Required Qualifications
What We Look For in a Candidate
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or equivalent experience.
12+ years of experience in database engineering, platform engineering, infrastructure engineering, site reliability engineering (SRE), cloud engineering, or related technical disciplines.
Proven experience leading large-scale engineering, automation, operational excellence, or transformation initiatives in complex enterprise environments.
Experience driving standardization, process optimization, reliability improvements, and operational efficiency across large-scale technology platforms.
Strong experience with Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), automation, CI/CD, and modern engineering practices.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional technical initiatives and influencing engineering teams.
Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience transforming traditional DBA or operations organizations into Platform Engineering, DevOps, or SRE operating models.
Experience with enterprise database platforms including Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, or similar technologies.
Experience establishing automation standards, governance frameworks, reusable patterns, and self-service capabilities.
Hands-on experience with Terraform, Ansible, AWX, GitOps, CI/CD pipelines, scripting, and enterprise automation platforms.
Experience analyzing ServiceNow incident, request, and change data to identify service improvement and automation opportunities.
Experience implementing observability, proactive monitoring, reliability engineering, performance optimization, and operational health management practices.
Experience driving database lifecycle management programs including patching, upgrades, platform currency, vulnerability remediation, and technical debt reduction.
Experience leading brownfield standardization and optimization initiatives to simplify legacy environments and accelerate cloud migration readiness.
Experience supporting cloud migration, datacenter exit, modernization, or large-scale infrastructure transformation initiatives.
Familiarity with AWS, Azure, GCP, hybrid cloud, and multi-cloud environments.
Experience leveraging AI and intelligent automation to improve operational efficiency, engineering productivity, and service delivery.
Success Profile
The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader who thrives in transforming operational organizations into modern engineering organizations. This individual has a proven track record of reducing complexity, improving reliability, driving automation at scale, eliminating operational toil, and enabling cloud modernization through standardization, process optimization, and engineering excellence.
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 - $202,755 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 - $212,893 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI
$167,273 - $223,031 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 #: 343224
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:
https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/life-at-lumen
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 cha

Work arrangement
Yes