Senior Artificial Intelligence Advisor, Startups

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 Senior Artificial Intelligence Advisor, 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.

• Design and deliver AI-powered solutions using Azure AI services (e.g., AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, Speech, Cognitive Services and Responsible AI).
• Collaborate with startup founders and engineering teams to understand their product vision and translate it into scalable cloud-native AI architectures.
• Lead workshops, design sessions, and build proofs-of-concept (PoC) to demonstrate the value of AI and cloud services in startup scenarios.
• 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.
• Represent Microsoft for Startups at regional startup events. Develop and present relevant technical and industry related content and present to large and small audiences.
• 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.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years experience in technical architect, technical consulting, design and implementation, and/or technical sales with at least 2 years focused on AI/ML solutions.
• 1+ year(s) deep expertise in Azure AI services and familiarity with open-source AI/ML frameworks. 
• 1+ year(s) strong programming skills in Python and/or JavaScript, with experience building and deploying AI models.
• 1+ years(s) proven track record of working with startups or fast-paced product teams. 

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, or related field AND 8+ years experience in a technical architect, consulting, design and implementation, and/or sales with at least 4+ years focused on AI/ML solutions.
• 2+ years experience working in a customer-facing role (e.g., internal and/or external).
• 1+ year(s) experience mentoring or advising startup teams on technical strategy.

Technical Program Management 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 $158,400 - $258,000 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

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until July 15, 2025.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form. 

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work. 

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