About the role

Aplyr's Quick Take

This role is about leading software planning and execution for a high-performance AI accelerator platform at Microsoft. You'll manage complex, cross-functional programs, ensuring software readiness from development through production. It's primarily an individual contributor role focused on technical program management.

Good fit

Ideal candidates have 6+ years in engineering or program management, with a strong background in GPU or accelerator software ecosystems. You should be comfortable working with multiple teams and have a structured, detail-oriented approach.

Worth noting

The salary range is quite broad, indicating potential variability based on experience. The role requires strong technical depth and cross-team collaboration, which may be challenging for those not used to high-stakes environments.

Overview

Microsoft is developing advanced AI infrastructure platforms that require deep integration across hardware and software. We are looking for a Principal Program Manager to lead software planning and execution for a high-performance accelerator platform.

This role sits at the intersection of silicon, firmware, systems software, and AI infrastructure. You will drive end-to-end execution across the software stack to ensure readiness for platform milestones, system integration, and production deployment.

We are seeking candidates with strong technical depth in GPU or accelerator software ecosystems who can partner effectively with engineering teams and bring structure to highly complex, cross-functional programs.

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

Own and drive end-to-end software program execution for an accelerator platform, from early development through bring-up, validation, release, and production readiness
Lead cross-functional planning across the full software stack, including firmware, drivers, kernel interfaces, compilers, runtime systems, distributed infrastructure, SDKs, and tools
Build and maintain integrated program plans, including schedules, dependency maps, and readiness criteria across multiple engineering teams
Partner with hardware, firmware, and software teams to align on requirements, milestones, and critical path dependencies
Drive new platform bring-up readiness, including sequencing of software deliverables aligned with hardware milestones and validation gates
Establish and run execution rhythms, including program reviews, readiness checkpoints, status reporting, and issue escalation
Identify risks early and lead mitigation strategies to ensure delivery against timelines and quality targets

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree AND 6+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development OR equivalent experience.
3+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.

Other Requirements

Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications

10+ years of experience in Technical Program Management, systems software, infrastructure/platform engineering, or related technical leadership roles, with a proven track record of leading large-scale, cross-functional engineering programs.
Deep technical expertise in GPU, accelerator, SoC, AI infrastructure, HPC, or low-level platform software stacks, including areas such as device drivers, firmware, hardware/software interfaces, compilers, runtime systems, AI/ML frameworks, distributed systems, or high-performance computing.
Experience driving new platform bring-up, system integration, and hardware/software co-development efforts across complex engineering environments.
Strong program execution skills, including managing schedules, dependencies, risks, release readiness, and coordination across hardware, software, and external partner/vendor teams.
Familiarity with AI training and inference workloads, performance optimization, and system-level scalability challenges.
Ability to engage deeply with engineering teams on architecture decisions, technical trade-offs, and complex system design challenges.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences and drive alignment across organizations.

Technical Program Management IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800.00 - $274,800.00 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000.00 - $304,200.00 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

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.

Skills & Tags

Aplyr's read

Microsoft is a technology giant shaping global computing, attracting talent interested in innovation and impact across software, cloud, and AI sectors.
Synthesized from recent postings & public sources

What's promising

•Strong commitment to innovation in AI and cloud computing.
•Diverse range of roles from technical to managerial, offering career growth.
•Financially stable with a robust global presence and market influence.

What to watch

•Complex organizational structure can slow decision-making processes.
•High competition for roles may limit entry-level opportunities.
•Potential for work-life balance challenges in high-demand positions.

Why Microsoft

•Pioneer in personal and business computing with a legacy of innovation.
•Extensive global reach with a diverse workforce and inclusive culture.
•Leader in integrating AI into mainstream software and cloud services.

Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?

About Microsoft

Microsoft

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MSFT$390.34-1.77%

Microsoft is a global technology company that develops, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products, services, and devices. Known for its Windows operating system and Office productivity suite, Microsoft has a significant impact on personal and business computing worldwide.