Principal Technical Program Manager - Forward Deployed Engineering

Job Description

Overview

The Industry Solutions Engineering (ISE) team is a global engineering organization that has operated Microsoft’s Forward Deployed Engineering function for over a decade, working directly with customers to co-engineer solutions to their toughest business challenges. We don’t build things and hand them over. We embed with customers, engineer side-by-side, and create real business value together.

We operate in small, multidisciplinary teams, enabling tight feedback loops and rapid iteration. Together, we build AI-powered, cloud-based solutions that deliver measurable business outcomes. Our work is powered by Hypervelocity Engineering (HVE), a methodology of applying AI across the full lifecycle to build and ship secure, production-ready solutions from day one, accelerating time to value without sacrificing quality, control, or trust.

We collaborate with Microsoft product teams, partners, and open-source communities to create reusable, high-impact solution patterns that contribute to the broader Microsoft platform.

We are hiring a Principal Technical Program Manager, that will embed with strategic customers to lead complex technical programs, own the full customer journey from problem definition through delivery, and drive measurable business outcomes. You will operate with high autonomy, using AI-powered engineering workflows daily to accelerate requirements into specs, generate project proposals from customer context, and drive continuous value delivery. You will be part of a team of software engineers, data scientists, technical program managers, and designers who work side-by-side with high-impact customers and their engineers to build innovative solutions.

You will thrive working with a variety of technologies, not just Microsoft technology. You will solve business problems that matter, contribute to open source, and collaborate with Microsoft product teams to bring customer-learned insights back into the platform.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond .

Responsibilities

• Embed with strategic customers to lead complex technical programs with high autonomy, aligning business needs with engineering solutions across AI, cloud, and data. Take ownership of the customer journey end-to-end, from problem definition through co-engineering delivery to measurable business outcomes.
• Apply AI assisted engineering practices as a daily operating mode: use AI tools across the full software development lifecycle to accelerate requirements-to-specs, generate high-quality engineering artifacts from customer context, and drive continuous flow of value from business need to production.
• Operate fluently in engineering tooling (e.g., VS Code, GitHub, AI agents) as primary work surfaces for planning, documentation, and technical program leadership. Validate AI-generated outputs with domain expertise to maintain quality at speed.
• Navigate ambiguity in customer environments with self-direction and high ownership. Make technical and program decisions with incomplete information, proactively identify opportunities and manage risks, providing data-driven recommendations to stakeholders.
• Champion and cultivate reusable solution patterns, open-source assets, and engineering playbooks that scale impact beyond individual engagements. Contribute to the broader engineering community through knowledge sharing and best practices.
• Partner with multi-disciplinary engineering teams (software engineers, data scientists, designers) to evaluate, design, and deliver AI-powered cloud solutions side-by-side with customer engineers. Give key stakeholders data-driven recommendations based on identified risks and tradeoffs.
  • Embodies our culture and values.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications (RQs/MQs)

• Bachelor’s Degree AND demonstrated years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development
  • Or equivalent experience
• Years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications (PQs)

• Bachelor’s Degree AND demonstrated years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development
  • Or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
• Experience in customer-facing technical roles (e.g., consulting, solutions engineering, field engineering, or similar).
• Experience with AI/ML technologies, cloud architecture, or data engineering.
• Experience using AI tools and workflows in creating software engineering artifacts.
• Experience partnering directly with customers or internal stakeholders to deliver solutions end-to-end.
• Comfortable with travel up to 25% (role dependent).

Our team prides itself on embracing a growth mindset, inspiring excellence, and encouraging everyone to share their unique viewpoints and be their authentic selves. Join us and help create life-changing innovations that impact billions around the world!

At Microsoft, we are seeking people who have a passion for the positive impact technology can have on communities and for making a difference in the world. Within ISE, you will find a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, personal and cultural experiences which are vital to our success with our customers. It’s an informal and flexible work environment and you’ll be welcome to work in the way that best enables you to get your job done.

We invest in your health, wellness, and financial future by offering a competitive package including a wide range of benefits built around your personal needs and those close to you.

#ISEngineering
#WSS
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This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.