Overview
Microsoft’s Core Print team is driving a once-in-a-generation modernization of the Windows print platform – replacing decades-old drivers and interfaces with a universal, secure, and seamless printing experience for all Windows users. As a Principal PM Manager (PM) on Core Print, you will lead this multi-year transformation, owning the strategy and cross-functional execution to make printing on Windows “just work” across all apps, devices, and environments. This role is both highly strategic and hands-on, guiding end-to-end feature development, coordinating across numerous partner teams and external printer manufacturers, and ensuring that printing in Windows becomes more modern, reliable, and secure than ever before.
You will own a broad portfolio of features and programs critical to the business, setting up the long-term vision and success metrics and aligning them with Microsoft’s broader strategy shifting the Windows print ecosystem to driverless printing and cloud services model.
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 & drive print platform modernization: Own the multi-year roadmap for evolving Windows printing. Develop the vision for a unified, modern print experience that spans legacy Win32 and modern UWP apps, reducing fragmentation and complexity for users and developers.
- Align plans with Windows Core OS strategic initiatives (e.g. security, simplified user experiences, cloud integration) and get leadership buy-in for major architectural changes (such as deprecating legacy components, introducing new platform capabilities).
- Modernize & unify the print user experience: Lead efforts to replace legacy print dialogs and tools with a single, consistent and intuitive print UI across Windows applications.
- Work closely with engineering teams and key partners to implement and validate such features, ensuring that Windows matches or exceeds competitor platforms in print quality and performance.
- Establish and track quality metrics (print success rates, error rates, performance benchmarks) and drive continuous improvements to the print to reduce print failures, shorten print times, and enhance overall reliability.
- Lead the transition to a driverless printing ecosystem: Spearhead the phase-out of legacy printer drivers in favor of Windows’ IPP-based print driver and modern standards.
- As a people manager, provide clear guidance and mentoring to build a strong team culture and drive consistent performance. Demonstrate Microsoft’s leadership values while ensuring effective practices across Product Management.
- You will also work with industry bodies (like Mopria Alliance) to ensure broad compliance with industry print standards.
- Engage directly with top printer OEMs (HP, Canon, Brother, Epson, Xerox, etc.) to encourage Print Support App (PSA) adoption and gather feedback and address their feedback to improve functionality.
Qualifications
Required/Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree AND 8+ years experience in product/service/program management or software development.
- OR equivalent experience AND people management experience.
Proven Product/Program Leadership: 8+ years of program management experience (or equivalent leadership in product development) with a track record of delivering complex, cross-team projects in the software or hardware/Device space. Demonstrated ability to drive a vision from concept to ship, managing multi-release roadmaps and making data-driven decisions at a Principal PM level.
Technical Depth in Platforms/Hardware: Strong understanding of operating systems, drivers, and device technologies. Ability to quickly grasp technical details in areas like print drivers, network protocols, cloud services, and security. Experience with Windows OS components or enterprise software development is a plus.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Excellent skills in leading cross-team initiatives and influencing without direct authority. Comfortable coordinating work across multiple engineering teams (shell/UI, device driver development, cloud services) and with external partners (hardware OEMs, ISVs). Able to build strong relationships and drive consensus in a complex, matrixed environment.
User Experience & Design Sense: Passion for creating intuitive, cohesive user experiences. Familiar with modern UX design processes; capable of working with design and research teams to reinvent long-standing UI flows (like print dialogs) for simplicity and consistency. Empathy for end-users and IT admins, ensuring solutions address real-world needs (usability, accessibility, manageability).
Excellent Communication: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills. Proven ability to articulate strategy and technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences – from engineering teams to executives to external partners. Comfortable preparing executive summaries, leading discussions in partner meetings, and representing Microsoft’s strategy externally.
Analytical & Data-Driven: Proficiency in using data and metrics to define success and measure progress. Experience with telemetry analysis, A/B experimentation, customer feedback loops, and quality dashboards. Strong problem-solving skills and a mindset of continuous improvement, using data to pinpoint issues and validate the impact of fixes or new features.
**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 12+ years experience in product/service/program management or software development.
- OR equivalent experience.
4+ years experience taking a product, feature, or experience to market (e.g., design, addressing product market fit, and launch, internal tool/framework).
6+ 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).
6+ years experience disrupting a market for a product, feature, or experience (e.g., competitive disruption, taking the place of an established competing product).
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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.**