Principal Strategy and Planning Leader

Overview

We are at a defining moment in technology. AI is reshaping how organizations operateembedding autonomous agents into core workflows and collapsing the time between decision and action. Security models built for a human-paced world cannot govern AI at machine speed, making trust across identity, data, and governance the decisive factor in enterprise AI adoption. Microsoft Security is uniquely positioned to lead this shift, extending our mission to make the world safer by helping customers confidently harness AI while defending against increasingly sophisticated, AI-powered threats. This is not an incremental evolution of securityit is a reinvention for the AI age.

As a Principal Strategy and Planning Leader within the Engineering organization, you will drive cross-portfolio initiatives that translate MSEC strategy into execution at scale. You will partner across engineering, product, research, and field teams to shape priorities, align dependencies, and accelerate delivery on the initiatives that matter mosthelping build the control plane for AI-driven organizations and enabling leadership decision-making with clarity and speed.

This role operates at the intersection of strategy, execution, and insightturning leadership priorities into executable plans, sharp metrics, and AI-powered intelligence that keep the organization on its commitments. Success demands a rare blend of strategic and systems thinking, operational rigor, and the executive presence to influence senior leaders in a highly matrixed environment. If you are energized by complex problems at the intersection of AI and security, and driven to shape outcomes that define an industry, this is your opportunity to help build the next generation of enterprise security.

Responsibilities

Strategy Development & Planning

• Partner with MSEC Engineering leadership to translate company and MSEC strategy into executable engineering priorities

• Lead annual and multi-year strategic planning processes, including investment framing, roadmap alignment, and scenario modeling

• Develop clear strategic narratives, business cases, and tradeoff analyses to inform LT-level decisions

• Identify emerging opportunities and influence strategic direction

Driving Cross-Org Strategic Initiatives

• Own and drive end-to-end execution of high-impact, cross-division initiatives

• Align dependencies across product teams, engineering, research, and GTM

• Establish clear ownership models (DRIs), milestones, and success metrics

• Proactively identify risks, unblock execution, and escalate decision points to leadership

• Ensure initiatives stay focused on customer outcomes vs. organizational boundaries

Engineering Planning & Execution Rhythm

• Define and operationalize planning cadences (quarterly reviews, engineering reviews, strategy checkpoints)

• Partner with engineering leaders to ensure alignment across PM, Dev, UX, and CxE in delivering AI-first security solutions

• Drive clarity on prioritization, tradeoffs, and resource allocation

• Track progress via KPIs, OKRs, and operational dashboards

Leadership Engagement & Executive Communication

• Serve as a trusted advisor to Engineering LT and MSEC leadership

• Create executive-ready materials (strategy decks, LT updates, narratives)

• Facilitate decision-making forums, including Engineering Reviews and cross-org alignment sessions

• Represent Engineering strategy in cross-company forums (e.g., product, field, and strategy teams)

Insights, Analytics & Continuous Improvement

• Leverage data, customer insights, and competitive intelligence to drive strategic insights

• Benchmark performance and identify gaps in execution, quality, or customer impact

• Improve operating model, governance, and execution discipline across engineering org

Core Leadership Attributes

• Strategic clarity + execution bias (not just planning, but driving outcomes)

• Systems thinker across products, orgs, and dependencies

• Operator mindset able to move from ambiguity to structured plans quickly

• Influence without authority in complex organizational environments

• Alignment with Microsoft values: growth mindset, collaboration, accountability

Qualifications

Required/minimum qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Business, Operations, Finance, or related field AND 8+ years experience in program management, process management, or process improvement OR equivalent experience.

Additional or preferred qualifications

• Masters Degree in Business, Operations, Finance, or related field AND 12+ years experience in program management, process management, or process improvement OR Bachelors Degree in Business, Operations, Finance, or related field AND 15+ years experience in program management, process management, or process improvement OR equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in strategy, product, engineering, or technical program leadership
• Proven track record of driving cross-org, complex initiatives at scale
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior executives and cross-functional leaders
• Demostrated structured thinking, communication, and executive storytelling skills
• Experience in security, cloud, or AI platforms
• Background in consulting, strategy, or technical program management at scale
• Familiarity with Microsoft Security portfolio or enterprise security landscape
• Experience working in high-growth, transformation-driven environments

Business Program Management IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $130,900 - $277,200 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 $165,600 - $303,600 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.