Director, AI Advisor - Startups

Overview Microsoft for Startups adopts a comprehensive approach to fostering success, partnering with venture capitalists and accelerators to identify and support the most promising startups. By working closely with startup leaders, we empower them to leverage Microsoft's extensive resources and global B2B market reach. As a Director, AI Advisor - Startups, your role will involve collaborating with early-stage startups backed by our strategic partners, helping them build and innovate more efficiently using Microsoft's AI technology stack. Acting as a technical advisor and hands-on architect, you will enable these startups to accelerate their product development and go-to-market strategies by harnessing Azure AI technologies and tools. In addition to these responsibilities, the individual in this role will partner internally with Microsoft product, engineering, and advocacy teams to amplify the voice of startups. This collaboration will influence the creation of content and shape product roadmaps, ensuring that the Microsoft ecosystem evolves to meet the dynamic and fast-paced needs of startups navigating their growth trajectories. 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 • AI Solution Architecture: Design and deliver AI-powered solutions using Azure AI services (e.g., AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, Speech, Cognitive Services and Responsible AI). Startup Engagement: Collaborate with startup founders and engineering teams to understand their product vision and translate it into scalable cloud-native AI architectures. Technical Enablement: Lead workshops, design sessions, and build proofs-of-concept (PoC) to demonstrate the value of AI and cloud services in startup scenarios. - Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with Microsoft for Startups technical enablement and go-to-market teams and Microsoft product and engineering to align startup needs with Microsoft's AI and cloud strategy. • Startup Advocacy: Represent Microsoft for Startups at regional startup events. Develop and present relevant technical and industry related content and present to large and small audiences. Guide and support early-stage founders in Azure ML Ops (e.g. Data Estate Architecture, ML Compute Platforms, Azure ML, Model Training and Fine-tuning, Reinforcement Learning. • Represent customer needs internally and advocate for technical blockers resolution and resource orchestration. • Partner with relevant product teams to drive innovations that benefit the AI startup ecosystem. • Leverages development opportunities (e.g., mentorships, role-based resources, trainings, internal events such as Build) to learn new technologies and startup ecosystem trends and share learnings internally and externally. • Shares ideas, insights, and technical input with team members using a working knowledge of specific Microsoft products and programs. Qualifications Required Qualifications: • Bachelor's Degree AND 6+ years experience engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development OR equivalent experience. • 3+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects. • 2+ years of expertise in Azure AI services or equivalent services on cloud based products and familiarity with open-source AI/Machine-Language (ML) frameworks including strong programming skills in Python and/or JavaScript, with experience building and deploying AI models. • 2+ years of demonstrated track record of working with startups or fast-paced product teams, including excellent communication and stakeholder management 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' experience engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development - OR equivalent experience. • 8+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects. • 1+ year(s) of experience reading and/or writing code (e.g., sample documentation, product demos, technical blogs). • 1+ year(s) experience mentoring or advising startup teams on technical strategy. Technical Program 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: 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, read more about requesting accommodations. Apply tot his job