Principal Sourcing Engineer, Semiconductor Backend

About the role

Microsoft’s Cloud Supply Chain (CSCP) organization is responsible for enabling the hardware infrastructure underlying the company’s cloud and AI growth. CSCP delivers the world's computer with an industry-leading supply chain, managing traditional functions such as planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and delivery, as well as supportability, sustainability, and decommissioning of datacenter assets worldwide. The organization supports over 200 online businesses, including Bing, MSN, Office 365, Xbox Live, OneDrive, and Microsoft Azure, serving more than 1 billion customers across 90+ countries through 300+ datacenters.

The Cloud Sourcing, Security and Sustainability (CS3) organization within CSCP focuses on sourcing, strategy, and supplier management to provide cost, flexibility, and supply advantages. This role will lead Microsoft’s sourcing strategy for backend semiconductor manufacturing partners, including OSAT, Substrate, and Test solution providers, in support of custom silicon development for cloud hardware such as Cobalt and MAIA.

Responsibilities

• Play a pivotal role in Microsoft’s evolving silicon strategy to drive competitive advantages for Microsoft’s hardware.
• Develop sourcing strategy for OSAT, Substrate, and Test suppliers, collaborating with Azure Hardware Systems & Infrastructure teams and product engineering teams on technology alignment and delivery of cutting-edge solutions.
• Lead engagement with custom silicon partners, both internally and externally, to deliver cutting-edge silicon solutions for multiple future projects in development.
• Foster partnerships with suppliers of custom silicon technology and build high-performing relationships with their senior leadership.
• Negotiate cost and ensure continuity of supply, partnering with planning and materials teams to optimize the supply chain.
• Negotiate supply and commercial terms that drive advantage for Microsoft.
• Ensure supplier selection process and component qualification meet all engineering and business requirements.
• Develop supplier capabilities and drive roadmap alignment across Microsoft’s hardware businesses.
• Achieve commitments on total cost, supplier quality, compliance adherence, and on-time delivery.
• Mitigate continuity of supply risk and develop key escalation channels across the supply base.
• Drive change management to continuously improve efficiency and performance via repeatable business processes.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Materials Science, or related field AND 6+ years of 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 of 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, including passing the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in sourcing from OSAT, Substrate, and Test providers.
• Engineering degree, preferably in Computer, Electrical, or Physics disciplines; MBA desirable.
• Understanding of silicon design, process, physical signaling, and packaging technologies.
• Existing relationships with senior leadership managing OSAT, Substrate, and Test manufacturing partners.
• Ability to drive alignment with hardware and engineering teams.
• Experience leading complex silicon projects, defining Statement of Work, and negotiating design contracts.
• Self-motivated with superior problem-solving skills, analytical capabilities, and attention to detail.
• Ability to partner with internal and external engineering teams to build credibility and trust while driving alignment around common strategy.
• Expertise in market analysis to determine market size, players, customers, growth, technology roadmaps, pricing trends, etc., to formulate sourcing strategies.
• Experience in should-cost modeling for silicon and packaging, mapping process technology nodes, and performing PPAC (Power, Performance, Area, and Cost) analysis.
• Experience in custom silicon supply chain, supplier selection process, and evaluation of custom silicon suppliers cross-functionally based on internal KPIs.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically but remain detail-oriented to support hypotheses with facts.
• Executive presence and advanced leadership capabilities.
• Ability to clearly articulate points of view with executive management.

Pay

The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year. A different range applies to specific work locations, including the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, where the base pay range is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Additional pay information can be found here.