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Microsoft are hiring a

Principal Product Design Architect

Overview

The Fluent Design System team is evolving the Microsoft 365 design language for the AI era. Help us pioneer the next generation of design systems as M365 Copilot expands with rich, multimodal experiences. Our new design system blends GUI precision with generative, model-driven adaptability. Help simplify our productivity ecosystem, elevate craft, and build the foundation for AI-native UX across M365. If youre interested in pushing the boundaries and rearchitecting whats possible with design systems, then this team might be right for you.

Responsibilities

  • Explore and apply emerging AI tools (LLMs, prompting workflows, generation pipelines, evaluation loops) as part of the default design-system workflow.
  • Prototype and build practical utilities that accelerate concept → shippable system artifacts (components, tokens, documentation, integration workflows).
  • Define how AI models interface with Fluent libraries and foundations.
  • Define system architecture and scalable foundations across tokens, components, documentation, and usage patterns.
  • Establish lifecycle standards for design system assets.
  • Create durable “ways of working” that keep design intent aligned with implementation.
  • Translate product experimentation into reusable system primitives.
  • Partner with Engineering and PM to define long-term design-system strategy and sequencing.
  • Drive clarity around architectural decisions, governance, and adoption models.
  • Make hard-to-undo decisions visible, testable, and scalable.
  • Lead cross-discipline reviews and workshops to align designers and engineers around system-level decisions.
  • Raise the overall craft and technical fluency of the organization.

Qualifications

Required/minimum qualifications:

  • Masters Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 7+ years experience working in product or service design
  • OR Bachelors Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 9+ years experience working in product or service design
  • OR equivalent experience (e.g., demonstrated experience working in product or service design or using design thinking to solve problems).

Product Design IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 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 $220,800 - $331,200 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.

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.