Architect Manager

Microsoft; New Delhi; On-site; INR 3,000,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Job summary

A global technology company is seeking a Practice Manager for their AI Business Solutions to lead a team and drive customer outcomes through AI solutions. The ideal candidate will possess over 20 years of experience, including at least 10 years in leadership, with deep knowledge of Azure Data & AI services. This full-time position is located in Delhi, India, and offers a dynamic environment focusing on growth and innovation.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of overall experience including 10+ in leadership roles.
• Deep expertise in Azure Data & AI services.
• Strong governance capabilities across well-architected frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a high-performing architecture team.
• Drive outcomes across AI Business Solutions portfolio.
• Influence CXO-level stakeholders and manage risks.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Azure Data Services

Governance Frameworks

Customer-Centric Approach

Education

Relevant technical certifications

Job description

Overview

At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. We foster a culture grounded in growth mindset, innovation, and collaboration—built on the values of respect, integrity, and accountability. Together, we create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We embed business transformation at the core of global enterprises by applying AI to solve complex problems and deliver measurable value. Partnering with our most strategic and forward-looking customers, we operate at the cutting edge of AI innovation—where technology meets bold ambition. Our deep integration with engineering and product teams enables us to drive breakthrough transformations, often pioneering industry firsts as trusted “customer zeros.” This is a team for bold problem-solvers and forward-thinking visionaries, united by a passion for shaping the future at the forefront of AI.

The AI Business Solutions Consulting Practice Manager (M6) for EMEA/Asia is part of Microsoft’s strategic Solution Area AI Business Solutions, integrating Modern Work and Business Applications portfolios. Reporting to the Regional AI Business Solutions Leader, with a dotted line to the GDC (Global Delivery Center) Site Leader, this role is accountable for building and leading a regional consulting team of Solution Architects, Project Managers, and Consultants. The Practice Manager is responsible for delivering technical excellence in AI solutions, driving customer business outcomes, and ensuring operational rigor while providing organizational and thought leadership.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Growth: Build and lead a high-performing architecture team. Model, coach, and care while setting standards for technical quality, governance, and solution integrity across complex programs. Attract, develop, and retain high-performing talent. Build an inclusive, collaborative, and empowering team culture.
• Customer Focus: Foster a customer-centric culture focused on delivering measurable business results. Maintain strong stakeholder relationships and incorporate Voice of the Customer feedback to drive improvement. Serve as executive sponsor for key accounts, ensuring alignment with customer strategy and proactive issue resolution in alignment with EMEA CPMMs.
• Customer Transformation Ownership: Drive outcomes across the AI Business Solutions portfolio - ensuring measurable value realization.
• Executive Engagement: Influence CXO-level stakeholders, define success metrics, lead Architecture Review Boards, and proactively manage risks, assumptions, and trade-offs. Program Oversight: Steer large-scale, multi-workload programs, ensuring delivery excellence and business impact.
• Technology Leadership: Maintain strong technical depth in AI Business Solutions. Promote continuous technical innovation and excellence. Align regional initiatives with global standards in collaboration with the GDC Site Leader. Oversee solution design, engineering methodologies, and the development of reusable assets to maximize efficiency and impact.
• Presales Excellence: Guide solution shaping, estimation, and win strategies. Collaborate across Microsoft field teams to craft compelling proposals aligned to customer needs.
• Collaboration: Promote “One Team” culture across regional and GDC teams, ensuring clarity of roles and effective knowledge sharing, enabling a unified global approach to AI Business Solutions delivery.
• Readiness & Innovation: Cultivate communities of practice, drive certification plans, and promote reuse of accelerators and IP. Embed Responsible AI standards across engagements.
• Thought Leadership: Define and communicate the strategic vision and offerings for the practice. Represent the practice in executive forums, provide insights into technology and industry trends, and act as a trusted advisor on AI transformation strategies.
• Change Management: Lead organizational change initiatives and ensure successful integration of regional and GDC capabilities. Provide feedback on execution and advocate for necessary corporate investments.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• 20+ years of overall experience, including 10+ years in leadership roles across architecture and consulting. Proven success leading complex, multi-workload programs in data, analytics, and AI.
• Demonstrated people leadership—hiring, coaching, and performance management—with measurable outcomes in team readiness, innovation, and delivery quality.
• Deep expertise in Azure Data & AI services (e.g., Fabric, Synapse, Databricks, Azure SQL/MI, ADLS, Power BI, Azure OpenAI, vector stores, RAG/agents) and modern integration patterns.
• Strong governance capabilities across well-architected frameworks, including decision logs, NFRs, RAID management, test strategies, and security controls.
• Experience in developing and scaling reusable IP, reference architecture, and automation frameworks.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305), Azure AI Engineer, DP-203, DevOps Expert, TOGAF or equivalent technical/architecture certification.
• Experience in developing and scaling reusable IP, reference architecture, and automation frameworks.
• Proven track record in landing Data & AI transformation initiatives.

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.

Location: Delhi, India

Employment type: Full-time

Industries: Software Development