Microsoft is looking for a Senior Program Manager to help define and drive the future of graphics development on Windows. The Windows Graphics team builds foundational platform technologies used by game developers, GPU partners, and application developers worldwide to deliver high-performance experiences across the Windows ecosystem.
This role sits at the intersection of developer platform strategy, engineering execution, and industry engagement, with responsibility for technologies including DirectX, HLSL, PIX, graphics tooling, performance analysis, and emerging GPU technologies.
As a Senior Program Manager, you will partner closely with engineers, architects, game developers, game engine providers, GPU vendors, and internal Microsoft teams to shape platform investments that power the next generation of gaming, AI acceleration, and high-performance applications. You will own product strategy, roadmap development, partner engagement, and execution across initiatives that influence the broader Windows graphics ecosystem.This is a highly visible role requiring strong technical depth, cross-functional leadership, and a passion for empowering developers.
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
- Define and drive product strategy, vision, and roadmap for graphics technologies including DirectX, HLSL, PIX, and related developer tools.
- Identify industry trends, developer needs, and emerging opportunities across gaming, AI acceleration, graphics, and high-performance computing workloads.
- Partner with engineers, architects, GPU vendors, game studios, engine developers, and ecosystem partners to shape platform direction and feature investments.
- Gather customer and developer feedback and translate technical requirements into product strategy and prioritized investments.
- Lead complex cross-functional initiatives involving engineering, design, marketing, business planning, and partner teams.
- Drive alignment across stakeholders, manage dependencies, and deliver strategic programs that advance the Windows graphics ecosystem.
- Define success metrics, monitor progress, and communicate business and technical outcomes to senior leadership.
- Champion developer productivity through investments in tooling, diagnostics, debugging, profiling, and performance analysis.
- Collaborate with engineering teams on architecture decisions, feature prioritization, and long-term platform strategy.
- Represent Microsoft graphics technologies through customer engagements, technical reviews, conferences, and industry events.
- Help shape technical documentation, developer content, samples, and community engagement efforts.
- Serve as a trusted advocate for customer and partner needs throughout the product lifecycle.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Math, Business, or related field AND 4+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development
- OR equivalent experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Math, Business, or related field AND 6+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development
- OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Math, Business, or related field AND 8+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development
- OR equivalent experience.
- Experience defining product strategy and roadmap for developer platforms, graphics technologies, or large-scale software ecosystems.
- Experience working with game studios, game engines, silicon vendors, or developer ecosystems.
- Experience with graphics APIs and technologies such as DirectX, HLSL, Vulkan, OpenGL, Metal, or similar platforms.
- Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving multiple engineering and business stakeholders.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including executive presentations and external partner engagement.
- Familiarity with graphics development, developer tools, GPU architectures, rendering pipelines, shader systems, and graphics performance optimization.
- Experience with graphics debugging, profiling, or performance analysis tools such as PIX, RenderDoc, or similar solutions.
- Passion for graphics, gaming, AI acceleration, and developer platforms.
#Windows #DirectX, #HLSL, #PIX, #Shaders, #Graphics, #Gaming
Customer Experience Program Mgmt IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 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 $160,200 - $261,000 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, read more about requesting accommodations.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Math, Business, or related field AND 4+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development OR equivalent experience.
- Master's degree in related field AND 6+ years experience OR Bachelor's degree AND 8+ years experience, or equivalent.
- Experience defining product strategy and roadmap for developer platforms, graphics technologies, or large-scale software ecosystems.
- Experience working with game studios, game engines, silicon vendors, or developer ecosystems.
- Experience with graphics APIs and technologies such as DirectX, HLSL, Vulkan, OpenGL, or Metal.
- Familiarity with GPU architectures, rendering pipelines, shader systems, and graphics performance optimization.
- Experience with graphics debugging, profiling, or performance analysis tools such as PIX, RenderDoc, or similar solutions.
- Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives involving engineering, design, marketing, business planning, and partner teams.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including executive presentations and external partner engagement.
- Passion for graphics, gaming, AI acceleration, and developer platforms.
Microsoft Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Microsoft and has not been reviewed or approved by Microsoft.
-
Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is presented as broadly competitive overall, with clear role/level/location variation and an emphasis on using posted ranges and band information for apples-to-apples comparisons.
-
Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are described as a standout, highlighted by a strong 401(k) match structure and immediate vesting, plus additional plan features for tax-advantaged saving.
-
Parental & Family Support — Family-oriented benefits are portrayed as a meaningful strength, with substantial paid parental leave and added supports like back-up care and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
Microsoft Insights
What We Do
At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our mission is grounded in both the world in which we live and the future we strive to create. Today, we live in a mobile-first, cloud-first world, and the transformation we are driving across our businesses is designed to enable Microsoft and our customers to thrive in this world.
.png){kind=logo}
.png)
