Principal Forward Deployed Engineer - Technical Program Management

In the Microsoft Frontier Company Engineering team, you won’t just build software; you’ll deliver real outcomes for some of the world’s most complex organizations.

We are a global team of world-class engineers who have been working in a Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) model for more than a decade, embedding directly within customer teams to solve their toughest challenges, side-by-side, and shipping production-ready solutions in days, not months.

As a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer - Technical Program Management , you will be a customer embedded engineer to serve as the primary technical leader aligned to a strategic account, driving business outcomes through hands on execution and multidisciplinary expertise. In this role, you will build and ship production grade solutions, work directly with customers to translate business needs into clear technical approaches, and operate with speed in complex, fast moving environments. This is a senior individual contributor role requiring strong technical depth, credibility with senior stakeholders, industry context, and an entrepreneurial approach to navigating ambiguity and delivering sustained impact over time.

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

Drive customer outcomes by shaping opportunities and translating business needs into clear, actionable technical approaches

Build and deliver production-grade solutions in customer environments, demonstrating strong engineering execution and end-to-end ownership

Accelerate time to value by operating effectively in ambiguity and delivering iterative, high-impact solutions

Engage and influence senior stakeholders to build trust, align priorities, and guide technical and business decision-making

Apply industry and customer context to tailor solutions and move beyond generic approaches

Prepare and transition work to FDE crews with clear scope and strong technical direction, maintaining continuity across the engagement lifecycle

Operate with an entrepreneurial mindset to navigate complex account dynamics, set boundaries, and drive urgency and accountability.

Required/minimum 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

Microsoft is unable to sponsor a work visa for this role due to the nature of the role’s job duties.

Additional or preferred qualifications Bachelor's Degree 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).

2+ year(s) of experience in customer-facing technical roles (e.g., consulting, solutions engineering, field engineering, or similar).

Experience with AI/ML technologies, cloud architecture, data engineering, and using AI tools and workflows in creating software engineering artifacts.

Experience partnering directly with customers or internal stakeholders to deliver solutions end-to-end.