Principal Program Manager (Customer Engagements)

Microsoft•Redmond, WA

About The Position

At Microsoft Quantum, we aim to empower science and scientists to solve the world’s biggest problems by realizing advanced computing platforms at the intersection of high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum information technology. Microsoft Quantum will change the world of computing and help solve some of humankind’s currently unsolvable problems. For more information about our team, visit https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/quantum. We are building the future of computing and are seeking a strong technical program manager to drive the execution of our customer engagements. This Principal Program Manager (Customer Engagements) role is responsible for end-to-end delivery leadership for complex, high-visibility customer and partner engagements. The role owns integrated program execution across multiple technical and operational workstreams, drives cross-organizational alignment, manages risks and dependencies, and ensures delivery readiness for first-of-kind or strategically important customer deployments. This role operates as a senior individual contributor with broad influence across engineering, product, operations, and partner teams. The Principal Program Manager is accountable for delivery outcomes and acts as the central point of coordination for key customer engagements. 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 engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development OR equivalent experience.
6+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
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.
Citizenship & Citizenship Verification: This role will require access to information that is controlled for export under export control regulations, potentially under the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the EU Dual Use Regulation, and/or other export control regulations. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide either proof of their country of citizenship or proof of their U.S. permanent residency or other protected status (e.g., under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)) for assessment of eligibility to access the export-controlled information. To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate’s citizenship will be verified with a valid passport. Lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees may verify status using other documents, where applicable.
Ability to work in an “AI-first” environment using modern AI tools to accelerate discovery through both hardware and software development.
Leadership & Adaptability: Demonstrated leadership through influence, with a proactive, self-driven approach to achieving results. Ability to thrive in ambiguous, evolving environments, adapting to new challenges and motivating teams through change. A passion for emerging technologies (e.g., cloud, AI, or quantum computing) and continuous learning.

Nice To Haves

Experience delivering first-of-kind or advanced technology solutions to enterprise or public-sector customers.
Background in cloud platforms, infrastructure, security, or regulated environments.
Experience working with global partners and multi-national stakeholders.
Proven experience leading large, complex, cross-functional technical programs with external customers or partners.
Experience communicating across all levels and personas, including executives, customers, and other stakeholders.
Demonstrated achievement in high-ambiguity, fast-evolving technical environments.
Experience managing dependencies across engineering, operations, security, finance, and external vendors.

Responsibilities

Own the integrated delivery plan across hardware, software, facilities, operations, and ecosystem workstreams for key customer engagements.
Drive execution through a disciplined operating rhythm, milestone tracking, and closure of cross-team action items.
Lead coordination across internal teams and external partners to ensure aligned commitments, timelines, and success criteria.
Produce executive-ready status reports, customer-facing updates, QBRs, and milestone readouts.
Identify, track, and manage risks, issues, and decisions; drive timely escalation and resolution.
Oversee delivery and launch readiness, including go-live criteria, cutover planning, and post-deployment follow-up.
Ensure financial tracking, cost attribution, and budget visibility for customer-facing delivery programs.
Maintain high-quality documentation and program artifacts as the system of record.
Embody our culture and values.

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