Principal Product Manager, Data Science & Market Research

Microsoft•Redmond, WA

About The Position

We're building the data-driven intelligence layer for the Windows Platform & Developer team, and we're looking for a Product Manager to lead data science and market research efforts that inform platform strategy, developer ecosystem investments, and competitive positioning. This is a high-impact role at the intersection of quantitative analysis, market intelligence, and product strategy—shaping how we understand developers, track platform health, and make investment decisions for Windows. The Windows Platform & Developer team is redefining the modern application platform for performance, security, and innovation. As the data science and market research Principal Product Manager, you'll have outsized influence on strategy by ensuring every major investment is grounded in evidence—developer telemetry, competitive benchmarks, ecosystem trends, and customer research—at a scale that touches over a billion users. As Windows evolves into the premier place for developers to build and run apps and agents, the need for rigorous, actionable insights has never been greater. You'll define the research agenda, build analytical frameworks, and deliver the market intelligence that senior leadership relies on to set priorities across UI frameworks, developer experience & tools, AI and agentic platform, and the broader Windows ecosystem. This role is ideal for a PM who combines deep analytical rigor with strategic product instincts and wants to directly influence the direction of the world's most widely used desktop platform. 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.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree AND 8+ years experience in product/service/program management or software development OR equivalent experience.
Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role.
This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Nice To Haves

8 years of experience in product management, data science, market research, or strategic analytics, preferably in a platform or developer-focused organization.
Solid quantitative skills with demonstrated ability to design research, analyze large datasets, and extract actionable insights.
Ability to translate data and research findings into product strategy and executive-ready recommendations.
Strong communication skills with the ability to present complex analysis clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, product, and business teams.
Experience with developer platforms, developer tools, or application frameworks.
Familiarity with telemetry systems, experimentation frameworks, or BI/analytics platforms (e.g., Power BI, Kusto, Azure Data Explorer).
Background in competitive intelligence, market sizing, or ecosystem analysis for technology platforms.
Understanding of the Windows developer ecosystem, including Win32, .NET, WinUI, and cross-platform frameworks.
Experience with data visualization and building executive dashboards that drive organizational alignment.

Responsibilities

Define and own the data science and market research strategy for the Windows Platform & Developer organization, aligning research priorities to business and product goals.
Build and maintain analytical frameworks that track platform health, developer adoption, ecosystem growth, and competitive positioning across Windows, macOS, Linux, and web/cross-platform alternatives.
Deliver actionable market intelligence on developer trends, framework adoption and enterprise modernization patterns.
Partner with engineering, product, and leadership teams to define KPIs, instrument telemetry, and build dashboards that drive data-informed decision-making.
Lead primary and secondary research—developer surveys, competitive analysis, win/loss studies, and ecosystem assessments—to surface opportunities and risks.
Translate complex data into clear, compelling narratives for senior leadership to support investment decisions, roadmap prioritization, and executive reviews.
Engage with developer communities, enterprise customers, ISV partners, and internal stakeholders to validate hypotheses and ground insights in real-world signals.

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