Principal Product Manager Azure Kubernetes Service

Job description

The Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) team delivers a fully managed Kubernetes solution on Azure, enabling enterprises to build, deploy, and operate cloud-native applications with confidence.

Our purpose is to make Kubernetes simple, reliable, and scalable for customers worldwide, empowering them to innovate without worrying about infrastructure complexity.

We lead by driving industry standards, building deep integrations across Azure, and fostering an open ecosystem that accelerates cloud-native adoption.

We are seeking a Principal Product Manager - Azure Kubernetes Service team to join the AKS team, focused on solving the next generation of user challenges and acting as a technical lead for the team.

In this role, you will handle the most complex technical projects and cross-team functional experiences.

You will be responsible for tracking technical issues and driving solutions, ensuring delivery of features, product and process improvements, and leading technical design and architecture discussions.

Success in this role means delivering on critical business and engineering targets, including telemetry, performance, reliability, resilience, security, and compliance.

You will collaborate with teams across Microsoft to deliver an industry-leading service that empowers developers globally to build and run cloud-native applications on open, portable infrastructure.

Additionally, you will have opportunities to engage with the Cloud Native Open Source Software (OSS) community to influence and contribute to industry-wide solutions.

At Microsoft, we believe in a culture grounded in growth mindset, respect, and inclusion.

We strive to create an environment where every individual can do their best work, learn continuously, and contribute to solutions that make a global impact.

Joining AKS means being part of a team that values curiosity, collaboration, and customer obsession while driving innovation in one of the fastest-growing areas of cloud computing.

**Responsibilities**

+ Define the product vision for Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) features and experiences, and translate that vision into near-term product roadmaps.
+ Drive execution of the roadmap by collaborating across Microsoft and with external partners to deliver impactful outcomes.
+ Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and success metrics to measure product and business performance.
+ Prioritize the engineering roadmap based on resource allocation and ensure delivery against commitments.
+ Represent the product in strategic discussions with customers, partners, and industry stakeholders to gather insights and influence adoption.
+ Partner closely with product marketing and press/analyst relations to position AKS effectively in the market.
+ Collaborate with Azure teams—including networking, compute, backup, site recovery, portal, storage, data, and developer divisions—to design next-generation enterprise-grade solutions.

**Qualifications**

**Required Qualifications:**

+ Bachelor's Degree AND 8+ years experience in product/service/project/program management or software development
+ OR equivalent experience.
+ 5+ years of experience with cloud-native technologies, including Kubernetes.
+ 3+ years of experience leading complex technical initiatives with verbal and written communication, analytical thinking, customer empathy, and strategic decision-making skills.

**Other Requirements:**

+ 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 AND 10+ years of experience in product/service/project/program managementOR software development
+ OR equivalent experience.
+ 1+ year(s) of experience working with enterprise customers to design and build systems architectures.1+ year(s) of expertise in building large scale distributed systems and cloud services.

Product Management IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $139,900 - $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

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until November 12, 2025.

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Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer.

Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .

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