Senior Subsea Project & Operations Manager

Microsoft has made significant first-party investments in submarine network systems around the world to drive industry innovation and meet growing global capacity demands. We hold ourselves to the highest standards in fulfilling our obligations to investment partners, host nations, and end-user customers. To support the continued success of these long-term, strategically important projects, Microsoft is seeking world-class talent to lead and strengthen subsea operations across our portfolio.

This role supports submarine cable systems that are critical to Microsoft’s cloud and AI capabilities, enabling services used by millions of consumers and businesses worldwide. We are looking for an experienced, courageous, and adaptable professional with strong hands-on experience in submarine cable route design, route engineering, and project implementation who can support, influence, and deliver network infrastructure in a fast-paced production environment. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong analytical, communication, people-management, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across diverse teams, influence stakeholders, and deliver measurable business impact.

In alignment with Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment where all employees can contribute positively to our culture every day.

Responsibilities

The Senior Subsea Project and Operations Manager will be responsible for managing, standardizing, and driving steady-state execution across key areas of Microsoft’s subsea investment portfolio. This role carries deep responsibility for submarine cable projects and operations across multiple systems.

• Partner with Microsoft network investment and commercial managers to bring an operator-focused perspective to submarine consortium and joint-investment engagements on a system-by-system basis.
• Act as an active and key contributor in consortium and committee meetings, particularly CCM, IPG, MWG, and TWG, to effectively represent Microsoft’s needs and interests.
• Lead and support successful submarine cable project implementation, with particular focus on cable route design, route planning, desktop study review, route engineering, marine survey coordination, permitting/interface considerations, and implementation risk management across complex marine environments.
• Develop long-term partnership strategies with key vendors and industry peers, including bringing parties together for submarine cable projects and supporting negotiations for ITTs, JBAs/C&MAs, supply contracts, and non-supply contracts.
• Plan, communicate, represent, and secure ongoing annual funding required to meet and exceed Microsoft’s system obligations, including responsibilities where Microsoft serves as Maintenance Authority.
• Ensure billing milestones and payments are met predictably through effective long-range and detailed budgeting across supply and non-supply contracts, with strong engagement across Microsoft Finance and Tax teams.
• Plan, communicate, and execute against budgets for system upgrade plans.
• Work closely with procurement organizations to plan annual purchase orders, execute contracts as required, and maintain a predictable business rhythm.
• Serve as the escalation point and remediation expert for matters related to Microsoft-owned cable systems, cable landing station infrastructure, access-related works, Network Operations Centers, and data center interfaces across multiple systems.
• Collaborate closely with Security, Facilities Management, external service providers, and vendors to support operational continuity and issue resolution.
• Partner with global Microsoft Legal teams to ensure contract clarity, integrity, and compliance in each country of operation or obligation.
• Clearly communicate Microsoft’s contracted year-over-year obligations to CO+I executive leadership, including executive briefings on system status, health, cost reviews, and partner relationships.
• Develop and maintain internal repositories to ensure secure access to information related to all aspects of Microsoft’s involvement in contracted subsea programs.
• Represent Microsoft and/or specific systems externally with environmental groups and third-party industry committees where close cooperation is required to protect and sustain system health.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, communications infrastructure, or a related discipline.
• Strong executive communication, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Executive-level budgeting capability and strong financial acumen.
• Demonstrated contract-management skills, including contractual risk assessment, priority evaluation, and obligation management.
• Minimum 5+ years of extensive hands-on experience in submarine cable route design, route planning, route engineering, route development, marine survey interpretation, and related implementation activities across complex subsea cable projects.
• Minimum 5+ years of proven experience and deep understanding across one or more major subsea cable systems as a first-party owner, including:
  • Project planning and implementation
  • Submarine cable engineering
  • Operations and maintenance
  • Terrestrial fiber optics
• Experience with networks, optical line systems, and related technologies within carrier, cloud/AI, big-tech, or OEM environments.
• 2+ years of proven experience managing backhaul access planning, programs, and relationships across U.S. and global environments.
• Ability to work effectively with stakeholders across different time zones.
• Demonstrated command of existing subsea systems topologies, cable landings and Top Interconnection facilities regionally
• In-depth knowledge of performance metrics
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Organizational and time-management skills
• Decision-making skills

• 7+ years of experience in marine cable engineering, project planning, and implementation, preferably with significant exposure to submarine cable route design from early feasibility through construction and ready-for-service delivery.
• 3+ years of daily operational experience with submarine cable systems, with a solid working understanding of domestic and global carrier networks.
• 3+ years of experience in network, data center, colocation sourcing, acquisition, and contracting.
• Strong problem-solving, strategic-thinking, and technical skills.
• Demonstrated business acumen through prior work experience or education.
• Self-driven, with the ability to work effectively with minimal direction.
• Experience using a data-driven and metrics-driven approach, with the ability to experiment, learn, and continuously improve.
• Familiarity with service catalog and workflow methodologies.
• Previous direct experience working with a telecom provider and/or OTT subsea team.
• Experience working with telecom and subsea providers.
• Previous experience working with Microsoft telecom and network capacity planning teams.
• Strong analysis and problem-solving skills
• Willing to travel between 25% and 50% of the time

Background Check 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.

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.