Principal Technical Program Manager, Responsible AI

Overview

Microsoft is committed to ensuring that we develop and deploy our AI technologies in ways that uphold our AI principles and warrant people’s trust. The Office of Responsible AI plays a leading role in this effort as part of Microsoft’s Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) division. With a cross-company mandate, we establish internal policy for how our engineering and sales teams implement responsible AI practices, enable our community of Responsible AI Champs to support our responsible AI program, and review engineering and customer projects that require additional input based on potential impact. We also help to shape new laws, norms, and standards to advance responsible AI for the benefit of society at large.

The Sensitive Uses and Emerging Technologies team within the Office of Responsible AI is responsible for providing guidance on Microsoft’s most sensitive and cutting-edge AI products, emerging technologies, and initiatives. Across Microsoft, we work alongside engineering colleagues on AI model and product development and engage with Microsoft researchers and sales teams from around the world. Within the Office of Responsible AI, we partner closely with our Internal Policy & Practice team, whose remit includes developing responsible AI policies and practices that scale across the company and supporting the implementation efforts for our Responsible AI Standard.

As a Principal Technical Program Manager, Responsible AI on the Sensitive Uses and Emerging Technologies team, you will provide internal consulting and assessment of high-impact AI use cases and support all facets of the Sensitive Uses program. You will evaluate AI-driven products to assess risks, define requirements, develop strategic initiatives, manage sensitive use case management programs and processes, support incident response processes, and socialize policies that support Microsoft’s ability to develop and deploy AI systems safely and responsibly. In doing so, you will partner with engineering, policy, research, sales, and marketing, stakeholders to rapidly adjust to the changing AI and policy landscape, drive new requirements across product teams, and cutting-edge AI technology at the forefront of a new computing paradigm.

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

• Support the Sensitive Uses and Emerging Technologies team within the Office of Responsible AI to evaluate and develop internal guidance and programs for Microsoft’s highest-impact AI models, products, and use cases from across Microsoft, including model and product releases using generative AI and state-of-the-art frontier models.
• Develop insights, recognize patterns, and assess AI system architectures with an eye toward providing actionable risk mitigation guidance. Use your deep knowledge of use cases and product deployments to develop more generalizable, scalable policies to account for the risks and impacts of AI systems deployed in an increasingly wide range of social contexts.
• Partner with engineering teams to contribute to, prioritize, and deliver on product roadmaps, primarily by evaluating their upcoming product releases for responsible AI risks and evidence of mitigation effectiveness. Develop a deep understanding of AI technology and responsible AI engineering implementations to connect to and develop AI policy.
• Manage, document, and drive progress to uphold responsible AI requirements across a diverse group of Microsoft engineering, sales, and research teams implementing AI systems in products, features, and customer engagements. Think through global challenges and drive accountability and results through others.
• Manage governance programs and processes for AI systems to ensure that specific performance requirements and standards are met throughout the development lifecycle.
• Create relationships to drive orchestration and integration efforts for the development and implementation process of responsible AI for multiple feature areas (e.g., product, services) and large and complex cross-functional projects with internal teams. Collaborates and coordinates across organizations to ensure alignment on product management and release, including tradeoffs, adjustments, and improvements as feasible.
• Embody Microsoft’s culture and a demonstrated commitment to the company’s core values, including a commitment to high ethical standards, unquestioned integrity, and a commitment to advancing the company’s diversity & inclusion commitments.

Qualifications Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree AND 6+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, applied science, technology policy, research, governance, product development; or related area + OR equivalent experience.
• 3+ years experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years work experience on issues pertaining to artificial intelligence, machine learning, or responsible AI, such as AI/ML engineering, AI-related technical program management, AI product development, data science with AI/ML components, inclusive design, ethics, safety, fairness, explainability, accessibility, privacy, security, AI governance, and/or AI policy.
• Experience with generative AI a plus but not required.
• Specific technical experience in fields of responsible AI, AI ethics, AI safety, digital safety, or security a plus but not required.
• Experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt to rapidly changing environments and demands. When dealing with emergent and complex topics, you strive to create structure and process that will support progress while remaining flexible as positions evolve.
• Experience working in or with a large, matrixed organization.
• Proven record of being an effective team player dedicated to collective successes. The ability to promote cooperation and solve problems in a timely, creative, and professional manner. Proficiency at working closely and collaboratively with multiple departments and executives, and in cross-functional teams.
• A proven track record of being able to engage and influence a variety of stakeholders, both within and outside Microsoft. Ability to collect and reason through multi-stakeholder perspectives, including those of executives, engineers and developers, sellers, researchers, civil society organizations, and regulators, all of whom grapple with new and complex technologies and their implications for society.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills. Ability to proactively advance company positions through high-impact engagement in small and/or large group settings, including communications with business leaders.
• Experience in strategic program management, execution, operations, and evaluation. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines simultaneously. You can quickly spot technical and process blockers towards achieving outcomes and work collaboratively to develop strategies to overcome them.
• Proven record of experimentation and openness to feedback, learning from both successes and failures.

Technical Program Management IC5 - 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-pay

This 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.