Principal Sourcing Engineer

Overview

Microsoft's Cloud business is expanding, and the Cloud Supply Chain (CSCP) organization is responsible for enabling the hardware infrastructure underlying this growth including AI! CSCP's vision is to empower customers to achieve more by delivering Cloud and AI capabilities at scale. Our mission is to deliver the world's computer with an industry-leading supply chain. The CSCP organization is responsible for traditional supply chain functions such as plan, source, make, deliver, but also manages supportability (spares), sustainability, and decommissioning of datacenter assets worldwide. We deliver the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's over 200 online businesses including Bing, MSN, Office 365, Xbox Live, OneDrive and the Microsoft Azure platform for external customers. Our infrastructure is supported by more than 300 datacenters around the world that enable services for more than 1 billion customers in over 90 countries.

The Cloud Sourcing, Spares, Security and Sustainability (CS4) organization within CSCP manages sourcing, strategy, and suppliers to provide cost, flexibility, and supply advantages that enable our org to become a world-class supply chain. Well-defined and executed sourcing and supply chain management ensures reliable, on-time performance and optimized cost, prevents urgent and unplanned investments, and provides accurate and timely information across the supply base and internally across the infrastructure organization. Our focus is on smart growth, high efficiency, and delivering a trusted experience to customers and partners worldwide.

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

Supplier Engagement & Negotiation

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with memory suppliers up to SVP levels
• Influence technology through industry consortiums and supplier engagements to influence technology used across Azure
• Drive 1P project requirements with suppliers through RFx and ensure supplier roadmap development supports Microsoft's needs

Technology & Market Analysis

• Monitor DRAM technology roadmaps and market trends.
• Assess competitive positioning and qualification timelines for emerging memory technologies.
• Collect industry trends and drive internal alignment through Microsoft's technology roadmap

Qualification & Spec Management

• Drive qualification of new memory components across multiple suppliers.
• Rationalize specifications and reduce redundant testing to accelerate time-to-market.

Cost Optimization

• Analyze cost structures and identify opportunities and projects to optimize for cost without compromising quality.
• Support CapEx decisions and supplier investment strategies.

Process Improvement

• Implement process optimization initiatives for sourcing workflows. Leverage tools and analytics to improve efficiency and decision-making.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Materials Science, or related field AND 6+ years experience in procurement, supply chain, sourcing, engineering, operations, or relevant sales-related roles OR Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Materials Science, or related field AND 8+ years experience in procurement, supply chain, sourcing, engineering, operations, or relevant sales-related roles OR equivalent experience.

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:

• Semiconductor & Memory Industry experience
• Deep understanding of DRAM, NAND, SSD technologies, including roadmaps and qualification processes.
• Familiarity with interface standards (PCIe Gen 5/6/7) and emerging memory architectures.
• Ability to analyze supplier capabilities, cost structures, and capacity planning. Knowledge of global memory supply chain trends and risk factors (e.g., geopolitical, seasonal, financial).
• Sourcing Strategy Development.
• Experience creating multi-year sourcing strategies aligned with cost, quality, and sustainability goals.
• Negotiation & Contract Management.
• Skilled in structuring LTAs, volume frameworks, and price/mix strategies.
• Risk Management.
• Proficiency in scenario planning, PSI orchestration, and mitigation plans for supply disruptions.
• Analytical & Process Skills
• Cost Modeling & Should-Cost Analysis
• Ability to perform TCO trade-offs and competitive benchmarking.
• Data-Driven Decision Making.
• Solid analytical skills for interpreting market signals and supplier performance metrics.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration.
• Effective communication with engineering, finance, and leadership teams.
• Executive-Ready Communication.
• Ability to translate technical constraints into business outcomes for senior stakeholders.
• Program Management Fundamentals.
• Skills in documentation, stakeholder alignment, and driving process optimization initiatives.
• Education Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field.
• Prior roles in memory sourcing, semiconductor product management, or supplier engagement.
• Familiarity with sourcing analytics platforms and ERP systems.

#CSCP #CSCPJobs

Sourcing Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $139,900 - $274,800 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 $188,000 - $304,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:


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.