Senior Startup Development Manager
Microsoft
Senior Startup Development Manager
Multiple Locations, United States
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Overview
Microsoft for Startups is a global team that takes a 360-degree approach to build success. We work with venture capitalists (VCs), industry organizations, customers, and our field teams to identify 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 Senior Startup Development Manager, your role will involve collaborating with early-stage startups backed by our strategic partners, helping them build and innovate more efficiently using Microsoft’s Cloud and AI stack. Acting as a trusted technical advisor and hands-on solutions architect, you will enable these startups to accelerate their product development and go-to-market strategies by harnessing Azure AI technologies and tools. This role demands a solid grasp of both the technical and business aspects of the startup's goals and a proficiency in fostering positive relationships with the startup.
In addition to these responsibilities, the individual in this role will partner internally with Microsoft product, sales, and engineering teams to support the dynamic and fast-paced needs of startups. This collaboration will empower founders to successfully partner with Microsoft as they navigate their product development and Go-To-Market Strategies.
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.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field AND 5+ years experience in technical program/product management, coding, software development/delivery work
- OR equivalent experience.
- 3+ years experience working in a customer-facing role (e.g., internal and/or external).
- 1+ year(s) of experience in Azure Cloud and AI services and familiarity with open-source AI/ML frameworks.
- 1+ year(s) of experience collaborating with early-stage startups to understand their technical needs and constraints.
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 in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business, or related field AND 7+ years experience in cloud/infrastructure technologies, information technology (IT) consulting/support, systems administration, network operations, software development/support, technology solutions, practice development, architecture, and/or consulting
- OR equivalent experience.
- 4+ years experience working cloud native applications.
- Technical Certification in Cloud Solution Architecture (e.g., Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google, security certifications).
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Responsibilities
- Collect startup insights to inform the design, development, proposal, and delivery of Microsoft solutions that align with startup business objectives, proactively resolving challenges to support accelerated solution adoption.
- As a trusted advisor, represent the voice of the startup within Microsoft to ensure alignment with customer feedback and strategy.
- Enhance customer satisfaction by delivering a positive startup experience. Shows a deep understanding of the key success factors for startups. Identifies dissatisfied customers and initiates remedial actions, including post-mortem reviews when necessary.
- Actively listen and respectfully challenge startups when going in the wrong direction and escalate appropriately.
- Collaborate with internal resources (such as Microsoft product groups, support, and sales), utilizing resource knowledge in relevant technology areas to address technical challenges within the assigned technology set.
Technical Leadership
- Deliver technology content, including architecture reviews, product demonstrations, and solution workshops, to support startup product development.
- Leverage development opportunities (such as mentorships, role-based resources, trainings, and internal events like Ready, Build, Ignite) to learn new technologies and business trends as advised by the leadership team or manager.
- Share ideas, insights, and technical input with team members by applying a working knowledge of specific Microsoft products and programs.
Business Leadership
- Independently identify issues and advise startups to operate and optimize performance in accordance with Microsoft best practices.
- Apply methodology and governance to minimize business and technical risks and adhere to quality assurance while ensuring excellence in contributions to design and/or delivery of solutions.
- Adhere to quality assurance standards and calculates risks while ensuring excellence in the design and/or delivery of solutions. Leverages standard tools to ensure accurate opportunity and milestone execution.
- Independently work with the startup to identify, determine root causes, and resolve blockers to accelerate consumption and solution implementation (e.g., by application of technical capabilities). Identify non-technical issues and escalate for removal by the appropriate party.
- Apply business and technical knowledge of architecture or other Microsoft solutions to meet business and information technology (IT) requirements and resolve identified technical constraints. Helps to shape and enhance startups requirements.
- Leverage knowledge of the products, services, and value propositions of Microsoft and its competitors in startup conversations to assess startup needs and independently identify growth opportunities.
- Contribute to the startup’s increase in Azure consumption. Using data driven signals to identify new technology adoption opportunities.
- Understand competitor's architecture solutions and identify Microsoft's strengths over competitive solutions to demonstrate Microsoft's value to startups.