OverviewMCAPS-Core accelerates customer outcomes and business growth. By uniting product, engineering, marketing, sales, customer success, and partners around a common customer mission, we help customers realize value faster and turn innovation into measurable business impact. Through deep technical expertise and differentiated go-to-market execution, we win competitively, capture market share, and scale repeatable growth motions. We differentiate through value creation - delivering world-class, AI-powered customer experiences that accelerate adoption, strengthen loyalty, and create sustainable competitive advantage, driving growth that outpaces the market.Cloud & AI Platforms (CAIP) is a strategic organization within Microsoft MCAPS Core focused on helping customers realize business value from AI, data, applications, and infrastructure. As organizations race to transform their businesses with AI, CAIP enables customers to build intelligent, trusted foundations that accelerate innovation, modernize technology estates, and deliver measurable business outcomesOur mission is to help customers unify data and AI, modernize applications and infrastructure, strengthen security and governance, and accelerate AI adoption at scale. By combining deep technical expertise, strong engineering partnerships, proven delivery approaches, and customer-centric execution, we help organizations move from AI ambition to business transformation. As part of Cloud & AI Platforms, you will work across Microsoft teams, partners, and customers to accelerate customer outcomes, scale technical excellence, and transform customer insights into repeatable success patterns that drive impact worldwide.As the App & Data Modernization Leader, you will lead a team of Cloud Solution Architects and Technical Program Managers who industrialize the path to AI-ready workloads. You will provide thought leadership across application modernization (moving .NET and Java workloads to Azure containerization and PaaS — App Service, Azure Container Apps, AKS, Functions, and API Management) and database migration and modernization (SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, Cassandra, and MongoDB to Azure SQL, Flexible Servers, and Cosmos DB), including heterogeneous migrations such as Oracle to PostgreSQL. You will lead an agentic-native approach to this work — GitHub Copilot app modernization, Azure Migrate, and the Azure Copilot Migration Agent — always under human control.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 a team of Cloud Solution Architects and Technical Program Managers covering application modernization, containers, app platform, integration, and database migration and modernization — enabling Field Customer Success teams, the Cloud Accelerate Factory, and partners to deliver customer modernization engagements.• Own App + Data modernization as one motion. Set the strategy that modernizes applications and the data they depend on together, rather than running database migration as a follow-on workstream.• Provide thought leadership and subject matter expertise across the modernization estate: .NET and Java modernization, AKS/ACA/ARO containerization, App Service, Redis, Functions, Logic Apps and API Management, and database targets including Azure SQL, Azure Database for PostgreSQL and MySQL, and Cosmos DB — including heterogeneous Oracle to PostgreSQL and SQL migrations.• Lead the development of high-quality, repeatable IP — frequently including code — built agentic-native, so that new reusable assets (reference architectures, automation, Factory runbooks, VBD delivery guidance, accelerators) are composable, agent-driven practices rather than static content.• Own and rationalize the VBD and offering portfolio. Streamline the separate application and database VBD portfolios into one App + Data portfolio aligned to FY27 GTM conversations, in partnership with the PPE team and the field, and shift the team from heavy IP content creation toward lightweight, rapidly scaled enablement.• Partner with the Cloud Accelerate Factory and Delivery Acceleration on clear roles, decision gates, and a standardized publication process — deciding jointly, backed by a business case, whether to expand an existing offering or create a new one, and driving Factory skilling and Job 2 pipeline identification where we do.• Run the technical blocker engine. Own UAT and Technical Feedback lifecycle and DRI coverage across App & Data Modernization, holding SLA and converting customer blockers into shipped engineering fixes.• Own the field-to-PG relationship for modernization. Align field modernization work to GitHub Copilot Modernization and Azure Migrate product direction through playbooks, agent contracts, audit gates, and Customer 0 validation loops, so field signals shape the roadmap without duplicating product scope.• Drive field skilling and community at scale — LevelUps, bootcamps, Tech Connect, the WW App Mod community and office hours — growing CSA and partner capability in agentic modernization for both applications and databases.• Serve as an executive sponsor for strategic customers and lead the team’s support of high-impact and regulated modernization engagements, including government, Defense Industrial Base, and air-gapped scenarios.• Build and grow teams through talent management, coaching, and career development. Foster a culture of customer-centricity, collaboration, and technical intensity.• Gather Voice of the Customer and Field, leveraging insights to influence modernization product roadmaps and drive continuous improvement and innovation.• Cultivate technical intensity and a continuous self-learning culture, model impactful community engagement, and coach inclusivity.• Embody Microsoft’s culture and values of respect, integrity, accountability, and inclusion.QualificationsRequired Qualifications:Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts, or related field AND 8+ years experience in cloud/infrastructure technologies, information technology (IT) consulting/support, systems administration, network operations, software development/support, technology solutions, practice development, architecture, and/or consultingOR equivalent experience3+ years people management experience, including managing consultant practice managers, technical sales managers, and/or technical architect managersOther Requirements:Microsoft is unable to sponsor a work visa for this role due to the nature of the role’s job duties.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:Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts, or related field AND 12+ years experience in cloud/infrastructure technologies, information technology (IT) consulting/support, systems administration, network operations, software development/support, technology solutions, practice development, architecture, and/or consultingOR Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts, or related field AND 8+ years experience in cloud/infrastructure technologies, technology solutions, practice development, architecture, and/or consultingOR equivalent experience. 6+ years experience working in a customer-facing role (e.g., internal and/or external).6+ years experience leading technical projects, teams, or functions.Technical Certification in Cloud and/or AI (e.g., Azure AI Engineer, Azure Solutions Architect, Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google, security certifications). 5+ years people management experience, including managing consultant practice managers, technical sales managers, and/or technical architect managers.Depth in application modernization and/or database migration and modernization, with credibility in a developer-centric team — modern developer tools and environments, a code-based IP portfolio, and assess → upgrade → remediate → containerize → deploy workflows. Cloud Solution Architecture M5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $130,900 - $251,900 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 - $272,300 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.