Principal Technical Program Manager - Azure Storage Platforms

Overview

The Azure Storage Platform team designs, builds and deploys the hardware and software foundation behind Azure Storage IaaS, spanning SSDs (Solid State Drives), HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) and Data Processing Units (DPUs). DPUs open new opportunities to improve performance, cost and efficiency by offloading storage, networking and security workloads from host CPUs (Central Processing Units).

We're looking for a Principal Technical Program Manager to help bring these capabilities to Azure, leading delivery from platform development and storage software integration through validation and deployment across Azure regions. You'll bring together engineering teams across Microsoft and external partners to evaluate technical options, align priorities and move complex programs forward. The work spans hardware, distributed storage and large-scale software delivery, with room to shape technical direction and guide decisions along the way. If you enjoy working across teams, bringing clarity to ambiguous problems and seeing plans become platforms running at Azure scale, this role offers the opportunity to help build the next generation of Azure Storage.

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

• Lead DPU program delivery. Drive programs from requirements and hardware bring-up through pilot, general availability (GA) and fleet-wide deployment
• Coordinate software delivery across organizations. Align teams working on DPU firmware, the storage data path and control-plane integration around shared requirements, interfaces and milestones
• Assess options and guide decisions. Work with engineering and business leaders to evaluate technical approaches, identify dependencies and recommend paths forward based on performance, cost, delivery timelines and operational needs
• Drive hardware and software integration. Partner with silicon, hardware, firmware and storage software teams to define system-level requirements and resolve integration issues. Take platforms from pilot to GA. Establish validation plans, quality gates and entry and exit criteria. Coordinate readiness for deployment into Azure capacity and ongoing live-site operations
• Build the business case. Evaluate total cost of ownership (TCO), time to market and supply risk. Present investment recommendations and trade-offs to senior leadership. Establish a shared execution plan. Maintain integrated schedules, milestones and clear ownership across workstreams. Help teams resolve dependencies and adapt plans as requirements and technical findings evolve
• Manage risks and escalations. Identify technical and schedule risks early, coordinate mitigations and bring clear options to decision-makers when trade-offs require resolution. Communicate with leadership. Provide concise updates on progress, risks, dependencies and decisions needed to keep delivery on track
• Partner with technology providers. Represent Azure Storage in discussions with DPU silicon, SSD, HDD and server vendors on roadmaps, deliverables and issue resolution

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering 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:

• Bachelors Degree Computer Science or Computer Engineering AND 12+ years experience engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development

• OR equivalent experience

• 8+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects

• 1+ year(s) of experience reading and/or writing code (e.g., sample documentation, product demos)

• Hands-on experience delivering DPUs, SmartNICs (Smart Network Interface Card), IPUs (Infrastructure Processing Unit), or other offload accelerators in a cloud or hyperscale environment

• Technical grounding in distributed storage systems: data path, durability, replication, performance, and fleet-scale operations

• Understanding of server and storage system design, as well as networking stack

#azurecorejob

Technical Program Management IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 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 - $304,200 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.