Principal Partner Solution Architect

Job ID: 200059425Posted: 2026-10-07Location: United States, Washington, RedmondSalary: USD $130,900 - $251,900 per yearEmployment type: Full-TimeWork site: 3 days / week in-officeRole type: Individual ContributorTravel: 25-50%Profession: Customer SuccessDiscipline: Cloud Solution ArchitectureCompany: MicrosoftOverviewMCAPS-Core accelerates customer outcomes and business growth. By uniting product, engineering, marketing, sales, customer success, and partners around a common customer mission, we help customers realize value faster and turn innovation into measurable business impact. Through deep technical expertise and differentiated go-to-market execution, we win competitively, capture market share, and scale repeatable growth motions. We differentiate through value creation - delivering world-class, AI-powered customer experiences that accelerate adoption, strengthen loyalty, and create sustainable competitive advantage, driving growth that outpaces the market.Enterprise Partner Sales, part of Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS) - Core, is accountable for building and co-selling innovative Microsoft Cloud & AI solutions and services, with our global Enterprise partners. Our Enterprise partner portfolio includes global systems integrators, advisories, high-value management consultancies (SI), independent software vendors (ISV) and software development companies - working together to empower people and organizations to achieve more.As a Partner Solution Architect (PSA) | AI Platform, you will guide globally managed GSIs through the build journey—from envisioning and architecture design to solution build assistance and activation through customer wins. You will scope and guide the development of business solutions, provide deep technical insights, and accelerate the growth of Microsoft Tech priorities. You will work closely with partners to understand their technical requirements and business objectives, align solutions to build, and guide them through development by delivering architectural design sessions, creating proof of concepts, and driving innovation through effective use of cloud technologies, ensuring that their solutions are optimized for performance and cost-efficiency.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.ResponsibilitiesAs a GSI Partner Solution Architect (PSA), your responsibilities will include:Guide Solution Development & Activation - You’ll lead the development and activation of new or enhanced partner offerings that align with Microsoft Cloud priorities. Your focus will be on ensuring these solutions are robust, scalable, secure, and tailored to meet evolving customer needs.Empower Innovation - You’ll run technical innovation workshops, tech briefings, and envisioning sessions to build technical intensity across partner teams. By collaborating with engineering and product teams, you’ll help accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies and shape partner offerings that align with both business goals and technical requirements.Strategic Sales Enablement - You’ll play a key role in activating transformational deals by providing architectural guidance, resolving technical blockers, and enhancing solution design. Your work will directly contribute to workload consumption and revenue impact.Champion Technical Excellence - You’ll guide partners through architecture design sessions, proof-of-concepts, and MVP builds. You’ll ensure that solutions follow Microsoft’s Cloud and AI best practices and are optimized for performance, scalability, and security.Thought Leadership & Stakeholder Management - You’ll build long-term engagements with strategic partners, influencing their adoption of Microsoft technologies. You’ll develop deep technical relationships with CXOs and foster executive alignment to support joint success.Measure and Share Impact: You’ll Track and report progress through Microsoft internal tools. You’ll contribute to internal knowledge sharing by publishing, community blogs, and reusable assets.Drive Pre-Sales Motion – Youll act as a technical business developer by identifying new opportunities, creating repeatable solutions, driving scalable technical initiatives, and accelerating business growth through measurable results.QualificationsRequired/minimum qualificationsBachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts, 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 consultingOR equivalent experience.Other QualificationsMicrosoft is unable to sponsor a work visa for this role due to the nature of the role’s job duties.Additional or preferred qualificationsBachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts, or related field AND 12+ 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 consultingOR Master's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts, or related field AND 8+ years experience in cloud/infrastructure technologies, technology solutions, practice development, architecture, and/or consultingOR equivalent experience.6+ years experience working in a customer-facing role (e.g., internal and/or external).6+ years experience leading technical projects.Technical Certification in Cloud (e.g., Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google, security certifications).Cloud Solution Architecture IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $130,900 - $251,900 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 $165,600 - $272,300 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.