Microsoft

Principal Product Manager

Microsoft • $165K — $296K *
Redmond, WA 98052In-Person
Consumer Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree AND 10+ years in product/service/program management or software development (or equivalent experience)
  • 15+ years experience preferred in product/service/program management
  • 6+ years experience bringing products or features to market
  • 8+ years experience improving product metrics
  • 8+ years experience disrupting a market with a product or feature

Responsibilities

  • Embed in the post-training loop with research and applied ML teams during fine-tuning and RLHF cycles
  • Define the criteria for 'good' across various Copilot models
  • Run RLHF/preference data campaigns in partnership with data and labeling teams
  • Build and maintain evaluation metrics for model behavior
  • Own the feedback loop to translate user and customer feedback into training priorities
  • Make tuning tradeoffs explicit and align across teams
  • Represent Responsible AI and enterprise requirements in training priorities

Benefits

  • Comprehensive healthcare options
  • 401(k) savings plan with company match
  • Paid time off and holidays
  • Employee stock purchase program
  • Professional development opportunities
Full Job Description
Overview

The base model gets you capability. Post-training is what turns that capability into a model people actually want to use; one that follows instructions well, has the right tone and judgment for Copilot's surfaces, refuses the right things, and keeps getting better release over release.

We're looking for a Principal Product Manager to sit inside that process. You'll be embedded directly with applied researchers and ML engineers running RLHF, fine-tuning, and preference-tuning pipelines, reading model outputs, calling out what's wrong, and turning that into concrete training priorities. You're the person who brings the end user's voice into a room that's otherwise all metrics and loss curves.

This is a technical, hands-on PM role, not just a roadmap-and-requirements role. You'll spend real time in transcripts and eval dashboards, and you'll need enough grounding in how post-training actually works (RLHF, DPO/preference optimization, instruction tuning, data curation) to have a credible point of view with the research team.

Responsibilities

  • Embed in the post-training loop: work day-to-day with research and applied ML teams during fine-tuning and RLHF cycles, reviewing model outputs and giving structured feedback on quality, tone, and behavior
  • Define what "good" means for Copilot's models: set the priorities for capability, personality, and safety tradeoffs across surfaces (Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio agents, Windows) - where "good" is often genuinely ambiguous and hasn't been decided before
  • Run RLHF/preference data campaigns: partner with data and labeling teams to scope what human preference data gets collected, for which behaviors, and why
  • Build and maintain behavior evals: translate qualitative judgment calls ("this response felt too hedgy," "this refused when it shouldn't have") into evaluation sets that can be tracked release over release
  • Own the feedback loop: turn user research, enterprise customer feedback, and production incident learnings into concrete post-training priorities - closing the gap between "users are unhappy with X" and "the next fine-tune addresses X"
  • Make the tuning tradeoffs explicit: helpfulness vs. caution, consistency vs. personality, latency/cost vs. quality - and drive alignment across research, safety, and product leadership on where the line sits
  • Represent Responsible AI and enterprise requirements into training priorities - compliance behaviors, refusal policies, and brand voice all have to be reflected in what the model is actually tuned to do.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree AND 10+ years experience in product/service/program management or software development
    • OR equivalent experience.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree AND 15+ years experience in product/service/program management or software development
    • OR equivalent experience.
  • 6+ years experience taking a product, feature, or experience to market (e.g., design, addressing product market fit, and launch, internal tool/framework).
  • 8+ years experience improving product metrics for a product, feature, or experience in a market (e.g., growing customer base, expanding customer usage, avoiding customer churn).
  • 8+ years experience disrupting a market for a product, feature, or experience (e.g., competitive disruption, taking the place of an established competing product).


Product Management IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 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 $220,800 - $331,200 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.

About Microsoft

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft’s devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses the Windows operating system and related software, Microsoft Office for consumers, and the Windows Phone operating system. The company’s computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft’s commercial licensing segments license server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online.

Microsoft Careers

Join Microsoft today and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and diversity in its workforce. As a global leader in technology and digital transformation, Microsoft offers unparalleled job opportunities that propel your career to new heights.

Explore Career Opportunities at Microsoft

Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a recent graduate eager to start your career, Microsoft has a position that suits your skills and ambitions. We are committed to fostering a culture of growth and learning, where every team member is supported in expanding their horizons.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with a Microsoft internship. Our internships provide invaluable workplace experience and networking opportunities in a supportive and dynamic environment. You'll work on real projects, learn from industry leaders, and gain the skills necessary for a successful career in technology.

Employment Benefits

Choosing a career at Microsoft means more than just a job. Our employees enjoy a range of benefits designed to empower them both professionally and personally. These include comprehensive health benefits, flexible working conditions, and opportunities for career advancement through professional development and diversity training.

Inclusive Culture and Diversity

At Microsoft, we believe that innovation comes from diversity of thought and inclusion. We are committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued and inspired. Our leadership is dedicated to fostering an environment where diverse perspectives lead to breakthrough innovations and a competitive edge.

Grow with Us

Career growth at Microsoft is about more than climbing the corporate ladder; it's about continuous learning, expanding your skills, and improving your capabilities. With access to various leadership and training programs, you can evolve as a professional and make a significant impact within the company and on the global stage.

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to identify true potential. Starting with a review of your resume, followed by interviews that assess your problem-solving abilities and cultural fit, we ensure that all candidates have a fair chance to demonstrate their strengths and potential to contribute to our team.

Networking and Professional Development

Microsoft is a place where you can build a professional network that spans the globe. Our employees benefit from connections with top-tier professionals and industry leaders, which opens doors to innovative projects and collaborative opportunities that are second to none.

Join Our Team

If you're ready to take on exciting challenges and make a difference in the world of technology, explore the job opportunities at Microsoft. Search for open positions that match your skills and interests, and prepare to embark on a rewarding career path filled with innovation and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest at Microsoft Careers by subscribing to our job alert emails. Get tailored content that aligns with your career preferences and discover the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Microsoft.

SEARCH MICROSOFT JOBS

At Microsoft, your future is limitless. Join us in our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Your journey with Microsoft starts here.
Learn more about Microsoft
Size
181,000 employees
Market Cap
$1,762.4 billion
Industry
Enterprise Technology
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ
MSFT
* Ladders Estimates

Similar Jobs

Ad banner background

Get Ready For Your
Next Interview

More Jobs at Microsoft

More Consumer Technology Jobs

Find similar Principal Product Manager jobs:

NationwideRedmond, WA