Principal Research Program Manager - Cloud and Enterprise Security

Security represents the most critical priorities for our customers in a world awash in digital threats, regulatory scrutiny, and estate complexity. Microsoft Security aspires to make the world a safer place for all. We want to reshape security and empower every user, customer, and developer with a security cloud that protects them with end to end, simplified solutions.

The Microsoft Security organization accelerates Microsoft’s mission and bold ambitions to ensure that our company and industry is securing digital technology platforms, devices, and clouds in our customers’ heterogeneous environments, as well as ensuring the security of our own internal estate. Our culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. In doing so, we create life-changing innovations that impact billions of lives around the world.

If you're out to disrupt #CloudSecurity, come join us working for the largest security company in the world, on the leading planet-scale products! At the Microsoft Cloud Security team, we take immense pride in developing a diverse set of security products and services that are leaders in their respective market segments. Our innovative solutions have set new industry standards, earning global recognition safeguarding critical infrastructure at the highest scale.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud is a cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP) designed to protect cloud-based applications running in all major cloud providers, including cloud security posture management (CSPM) that finds weak spots across cloud configuration, helps strengthen the overall security posture and identify risk, and cloud workload protection (CWP) which identifies real-time attacks and helps the SOC respond and mitigate.

We are seeking a Research Program Manager to join our forward-thinking team, focused on advancing security research for Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Security Exposure Management. In this role you will establish processes and metrics that will enhance our research team delivery and quality. You will also shape the strategic direction based on the cybersecurity attack landscape, product and customer demand, industry and security standards.

What is Microsoft Defender for Cloud? - Microsoft Defender for Cloud | Microsoft Learn Introducing Microsoft Security Exposure Management - Microsoft Community Hub Our team focuses on diversity of all types in candidates, and we strive to hire people with different experiences and perspectives into our team. To that end, we know that no candidate has every desired skill and experience, but together we make a strong, effective team.

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

• Program Management Methodologies: Utilize program management methodologies to effectively plan, execute, and monitor research initiatives and projects.
• OKR and KPI Management: Define and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) for the research teams, leveraging data-driven insights to measure program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Security Knowledge: Possess deep expertise in security principles and technologies, with a focus on product security and threat research methodologies.
• Security Research Project Management: Oversee the development and execution of security research and applied science programs aimed at emerging security threats, vulnerabilities, and attack vectors content relevant to our products and customers threat landscape.
• Strategy Development: Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and refine the organization's research strategy, ensuring alignment with product roadmaps and business objectives.
  
  

Qualifications

Qualifications - Required:

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or an equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of experience in technical program management, with at least 5 years focused on cybersecurity space.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop and execute research strategies that support product development objectives.
• Experience with defining and tracking OKRs and KPIs to measure team and program performance.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively interact with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
  
  

Other Requirements

• Deep understanding of Cloud, Endpoint and Identity Security productsץ
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, CEH, PMP) are a plus.
  
  

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Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.