At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex technical programs and co-engineer solutions with strategic customers.
- Company: Join Microsoft’s innovative Industry Solutions Engineering team.
- Benefits: Enjoy a flexible work environment, competitive salary, and comprehensive benefits.
- Other info: Embrace a growth mindset and collaborate with diverse teams to drive innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by solving business challenges with cutting-edge AI and cloud technologies.
- Qualifications: Experience in engineering or technical program management; customer-facing roles preferred.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
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.
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.
Principal Technical Program Manager - Forward Deployed Engineering in London employer: Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, empowering employees to work side-by-side with customers to create impactful AI-powered solutions. With a strong commitment to employee growth, a flexible work environment, and a comprehensive benefits package tailored to individual needs, Microsoft ensures that every team member can thrive both personally and professionally. Join us in a dynamic setting where diverse perspectives are valued, and together we can drive meaningful change across the globe.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Technical Program Manager - Forward Deployed Engineering in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry, especially those who work at Microsoft or in similar roles. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about the job and even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company culture and values. Understand how they align with your own experiences and be ready to share specific examples of how you've embodied those values in your past roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills! Be ready to discuss complex projects you've led, focusing on how you navigated challenges and delivered results. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email reiterating your interest and highlighting a key point from the conversation can keep you top of mind for the hiring team.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Technical Program Manager - Forward Deployed Engineering in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Technical Program Manager role. Highlight your experience with AI, cloud solutions, and customer-facing projects to show us you’re the perfect fit!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, give examples of how you've tackled complex technical challenges in the past. We love seeing how you’ve led projects from problem definition to delivery, so don’t hold back!
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through! We value diverse perspectives and want to know what makes you unique. Share your experiences and insights that align with our culture of inclusion and collaboration.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to see your application and get you into the process quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Microsoft Corporation
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Principal Technical Program Manager, you'll need to be well-versed in AI, cloud technologies, and data engineering. Brush up on the latest trends and tools in these areas, and be ready to discuss how you've applied them in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Customer-Centric Approach
This role is all about embedding with customers and delivering value. Prepare examples of how you've successfully navigated customer relationships, defined problems, and co-engineered solutions that led to measurable outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect to face some ambiguous scenarios during the interview. Be ready to share your thought process on how you tackle complex problems, make decisions with incomplete information, and identify opportunities for improvement.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Communication
You'll be working with multidisciplinary teams, so highlight your experience in cross-functional collaboration. Share specific instances where your communication skills helped bridge gaps between technical and non-technical stakeholders.