Partner Solutions Architect - New York

About the Role:

Join the networking revolution! Alkira, a Lumen company is reinventing networking for the AI era. We are searching for an experienced, creative, out-of-the-box thinker to join our rapidly growing channel team as a Partner Solutions Architect. In this critical role, you will work closely with channel account managers, engaging our key strategic partners in the US and around the world. If you’ve spent years living inside routing tables, debating SD-WAN architectures, or explaining the nuances of MPLS and cloud connectivity to enterprise customers or partner - we want to talk.

Location: Candidates located in the New York region will be highly considered

Key Responsibilities:

• Training and Enablement: Conduct technical training and enablement for partners covering Alkira’s Network as a Service (NaaS) platform, including cloud networking constructs, network segmentation, routing, and integration with major cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP). Help partners develop fluency in Alkira’s approach to simplifying WAN, SD-WAN, and multi-cloud connectivity.
• Solution Development: Work jointly with partners to architect customer solutions addressing enterprise networking and security requirements, including multi-cloud connectivity, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), network segmentation, and replacing or augmenting legacy MPLS and hub-and-spoke designs.
• Content Creation: Develop partner-facing content, like slides, videos and PDFs covering topics such as traffic steering, BGP routing, cloud architectures, firewall insertion and so on
• Events and Webinars: Represent Alkira and Lumen at partner and industry events, delivering sessions that clearly articulate the advantages of NaaS over traditional DIY models.
• Competitive Intelligence: Stay current on the competitive landscape across traditional WAN, SD-WAN, SASE, SSE, and emerging NaaS players, and equip partners with sharp, accurate competitive differentiation.
• Self Learning and Improvement: Maintain hands-on proficiency with Alkira’s platform through labs, documentation, and internal training.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years in a Solutions Architect, Solutions Engineer, or similar technical customer- or partner-facing role
• Networking Skills (REQUIRED): Deep, hands-on knowledge of enterprise networking fundamentals is non-negotiable. This includes Layer 2/3 protocols (BGP, OSPF), WAN technologies (MPLS, SD-WAN, IPsec VPN), network segmentation (VRFs, micro-segmentation), and tunneling protocols (GRE, IPsec, and VXLAN). Familiarity with SASE, SSE, and ZTNA frameworks is a strong plus. Industry certifications such as CCIE, CCNP, JNCIP, or equivalent are highly valued.
• Cloud Skills: Hands-on experience with networking constructs in AWS (VPC, Transit Gateway, Direct Connect), Azure (Virtual WAN, ExpressRoute), and/or GCP (Cloud Router, Interconnect) is preferred.
• Communication Skills: Proven ability to convey complex networking architectures to both technical audiences (network engineers, cloud architects) and business stakeholders (IT directors, VP of infrastructure).
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical mindset — able to translate customer pain points around network complexity, cost, and security into clearly articulated solution designs.
• Collaboration: Demonstrated success working across partner ecosystems, VAR/SI relationships, and internal cross-functional teams.

About Alkira

Alkira, a Lumen company, is building the future of enterprise networking: one programmable platform to connect, secure, and operate every cloud, site, partner, data center, and AI workload. Founded by Amir and Atif Khan, the creators of Viptela and pioneers of the SD-WAN market, Alkira was built to radically simplify how enterprises deploy and manage network infrastructure. Today, as part of Lumen, we are bringing that cloud-native operating model to a global network foundation trusted by the world’s largest enterprises.

Our platform helps customers move faster without managing hardware, stitching together providers, or operating fragmented cloud networks. Teams can build and scale connectivity on demand, apply consistent security and segmentation, and gain visibility across distributed environments from one place.

At Alkira, you’ll help shape the next chapter of networking: cloud-like consumption, private-network performance, and total control across the enterprise. We move fast, solve hard problems, and build technology that changes how global businesses connect.

Join us and help build the future of networking.

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: $129,891 - $216,482 NY

Life at Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solution

Life at Alkira 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 Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solution
and how we live into 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 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.

Privacy Notice

Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solution is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected during the recruitment and hiring process. Our Applicant Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect applicant information, as well as how individuals may request access to or deletion of their personal data.

To review Alkira's Global Employment Applicant and Talent Community Privacy Notice, please visit:
https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/privacy-notice

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 Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solution 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 Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solution, they are not for employment with us but may relate to another company with a similar name.