OverviewThe Server Ecosystem team within Windows Ecosystem and Customer Engagements (WECE) team works across the Windows server ecosystem to enable partners and customers to successfully build, deploy, and scale solutions on Microsoft platforms. WECE partners closely with product teams, engineering, and the ecosystem to remove friction, accelerate readiness, and drive real-world customer and partner outcomes. Across WECE, we are building scalable, AI-powered enablement experiences that help Microsoft's hardware partners self-serve, onboard, troubleshoot, and succeed across Microsoft technologies. We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer Manager to lead a team of engineers responsible for building and operating AI-powered enablement tools and platforms while engaging deeply with the Windows hardware ecosystem. In this role, you will drive execution across both engineering delivery and partner collaboration, working closely with Server OEM, ODM, IHV, and silicon partners to ensure platform readiness and ecosystem success. This position combines hands-on leadership of software development with strategic partner engagement — serving as the bridge between partner requirements and the engineering solutions we deliver. You will lead the design, development, and continuous improvement of scalable services, while guiding your team to translate partner feedback into high-quality, production-ready capabilities that accelerate ecosystem adoption. 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.ResponsibilitiesLead AI-Native Engineering Practices Across the SDLC by Driving disciplined adoption of AI-assisted development across requirements, design, coding, and testing. Ensure accountability for AI-generated artifacts and embed Responsible AI, security, and compliance controls into engineering workflows and outputs. Lead end-to-end delivery and live-site operations of partner-facing services and AI-enabled platforms, ensuring high availability, scalability, and operational excellence. Apply expertise in Azure application development, including AuthN/AuthZ, storage, networking, containerized services, and CI/CD pipelines, to build secure, resilient systems. Leverage telemetry, trace data, and failure analysis to improve reliability and reduce incident recurrence. Establish high standards for secure, testable, and maintainable code through rigorous code reviews, automated validation, and AI-assisted engineering practices. Lead root cause analysis using diagnostic data, enforcing solid test coverage and improving diagnosability, telemetry, and debugging effectiveness. Guide architecture and design decisions for complex systems, ensuring alignment with security, privacy, compliance, performance, and cost requirements. Embed observability as first-class design principles, leveraging data and experimentation to validate and optimize solutions. Serve as the primary technical leader for strategic hardware ecosystem partners (OEMs, ODMs, IHVs, silicon vendors), driving platform readiness and technical enablement for Windows platform releases. Apply knowledge of Windows internals to analyze diagnostic data (trace files, crash dumps), resolve complex issues, unblock critical scenarios, and improve overall device and solution quality. Synthesize partner feedback, usage patterns, and system telemetry—including real-world diagnostic data—into actionable insights that inform product roadmaps and AI-powered enablement features. Define and track success metrics to drive prioritization, validate feature effectiveness, and improve partner experience outcomes. Drive execution across complex initiatives, managing risks, dependencies, and deliverables through structured planning and data-driven decision-making. Serve as a senior escalation point for both complex technical issues and executive-level partner escalations, ensuring effective resolution, clear communication, and solid relationship management. Model Microsoft leadership principles by coaching engineers, developing talent, and fostering a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and engineering excellence. QualificationsRequired Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.OR equivalent experience. Preferred Qualifications:2+ years’ experience in a partner-facing or customer-facing technical role. Experience managing multiple simultaneous projects and cross-team stakeholder relationships. Experience with hardware ecosystem technologies or platform services.Experience working with server hardware ecosystem partners (OEMs, ODMs, IHVs, or silicon vendors).Familiarity with Windows Server platform technologies, device development, or certification processes. Experience with AI/ML technologies, platform services, or data-driven decision making.Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority and communicate effectively across organizational boundaries. #W+DJOBS Software Engineering M5 - 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-payThis 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.