Job Information
Lumen Principal Technical Writer in Albany, New York
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.
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 an outstanding Principal Technical Writer with a robust software development background and deep telecommunications expertise, including proficiency in TM Forum (TMF) frameworks. This high-impact role requires a technical journalist who thrives on writing and can drive documentation from program inception to execution, producing highly detailed, precise requirements at an exceptional pace with unparalleled agility. The ideal candidate combines a passion for crafting clear, compelling prose with technical acumen to bridge business and engineering teams, delivering industry-standard, TMF-compliant documentation for complex telecommunications and software solutions. This is a high-end position demanding rapid delivery of superior-quality output in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
The Main Responsibilities
Technical Journalism: Conduct in-depth interviews with business stakeholders, product managers, software engineers, and telecommunications specialists to elicit and synthesize complex requirements.
Requirements Development: Author highly detailed, precise, and comprehensive technical requirements, product requirements documents (PRDs), API specifications (e.g., TMF641 Service Ordering, TMF637 Product Inventory), and user stories that guide software and telecommunications projects from concept to execution, adhering to TMF standards and industry best practices.
End-to-End Documentation Ownership: Manage the full documentation lifecycle for multiple concurrent projects, ensuring deliverables align with business objectives, technical feasibility, and project timelines.
High-Velocity Delivery: Produce polished documentation under aggressive deadlines, maintaining clarity, technical accuracy, and consistency in a fast-paced, agile environment, with a focus on rapid iteration and adaptability to evolving needs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as a trusted liaison between software engineering, telecommunications, product, and business teams, ensuring requirements reflect stakeholder needs, technical realities.
Technical Validation: Apply software development and telecommunications expertise to validate requirements, anticipate challenges (e.g., network service provisioning, billing, customer experience management), and propose solutions aligned with TMF’s Open Digital Architecture (ODA).
Quality Assurance: Rigorously review and refine documentation to ensure is interoperable with partner systems, and is accessible to diverse audiences, including engineers, product teams, and leadership.
Writing Excellence: Infuse a passion for writing into every deliverable, crafting clear, engaging, and precise prose that simplifies complex technical concepts without sacrificing depth or accuracy.
What We Look For in a Candidate
Qualifications:
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Telecommunications, Technical Writing, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
Experience:
7+ years of technical writing experience in software engineering and telecommunications environments, with a proven track record of producing TMF-aligned requirements, API documentation, or system specifications.
3+ years of hands-on software development experience (e.g., coding in languages like Java, Go, Python, or similar), ideally contributing to telecommunications systems, OSS, or cloud-native applications.
Demonstrated ability to write high-quality PRDs, technical specifications, or user stories at a rapid pace in agile settings.
Experience with telecommunications operations, such as service provisioning, network management, or billing systems, is highly desirable.
Technical Skills:
Deep expertise in TM Forum frameworks, including eTOM (Enhanced Telecom Operations Map) for process standardization, SID (Shared Information and Data) for data modeling, and TMF Open APIs (e.g., TMF641, TMF637) for interoperable system design.
Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC), agile methodologies, and DevOps practices, with experience in version control systems (e.g., Git) and CI/CD pipelines.
Proficiency with telecommunications technologies, including VoIP, cloud telephony, network infrastructure, and operational support systems (OSS).
Familiarity with cloud-native databases (e.g., AWS Aurora, DynamoDB, Cassandra) and their application in telecommunications systems.
Expertise in documentation tools (e.g., Confluence) and diagramming tools (e.g., Visio, Lucidchart) for creating TMF-compliant process workflows and system architecture diagrams.
Knowledge of telecommunications compliance requirements (e.g., FCC standards, GDPR) is a plus.
Writing Passion:
A demonstrated love for writing, with a portfolio showcasing clear, engaging, and precise technical documentation that simplifies complex software and telecommunications concepts for diverse audiences.
Ability to craft compelling narratives in PRDs and specifications that align technical teams and stakeholders around a shared vision.
Soft Skills:
Exceptional interviewing and communication skills to extract critical insights from technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Ability to thrive in a high-pressure environment, delivering meticulous, high-quality work under tight deadlines.
Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive mindset to anticipate and resolve documentation gaps.
High adaptability to shifting priorities, ambiguous requirements, and evolving project scopes in a dynamic telecommunications landscape.
Preferred Qualifications:
TM Forum certifications (e.g., eTOM, SID, or Open API training) or contributions to TMF initiatives.
Experience with large-scale, enterprise-grade telecommunications systems or digital transformation projects aligned with TMF’s Open Digital Architecture (ODA).
Familiarity with designing database-driven telecommunications applications from scratch, including schema design and query optimization.
Certifications in technical writing (e.g., STC Certified Professional Technical Communicator) or relevant technical domains.
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 (https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/benefits-statement)
Bonus Structure
#LI-JS1
Requisition #: 338122
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 (https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/faq) . 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.
Application Deadline
05/14/2025