Overview – The Garage

The Microsoft Garage turns Microsoft's priorities into action for employees and customers by driving innovation and experimentation around real world challenges. We deliver impactful programs including the Microsoft Global Hackathon, AI skilling initiatives, and hands-on experiences at Microsoft development centers worldwide.
The Garage empowers employees to experiment, collaborate, and create solutions that align with strategic priorities, while supporting customers through co-creation that addresses their unique challenges and unlocks new possibilities. Our AI skilling programs prepare teams for the agentic era and strengthen their ability to leverage next generation capabilities.
With 15 facilities worldwide, we offer diverse programming that helps employees learn, collaborate, and work with emerging technologies, alongside digital and on-demand experiences for employees, customers, and partners globally.

Overview –Garage Lead Role

We are hiring a Garage leader for our Garage in Bengaluru, India. The candidate must have a proven track record building, producing, and delivering impactful programs, events, employee and industry engagements. The ideal candidate will have a passion for learning and technology and will have experience running and participating in hackathons and innovation processes. Ideally, the candidate will have relationships with our partners and competitive companies.
The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated learner with a passion for teaching, enabling, and engaging others. Experience as a community builder is required along with strong collaboration skills and strong technical acumen.
Software development or programming experience is valuable, and strong AI skills and knowledge are required. Technical curiosity and willingness to learn new things are key for success. Candidates preferably would have organizational experience and a diverse background.

• Lead day-to-day operations of the Microsoft Garage in Bengaluru, delivering impactful innovation experiences for employees, customers, and partners.
• Plan and execute the Microsoft Global Hackathon and additional hackathons throughout the year.
• Design and deliver AI focused skilling sessions and engagements
• Collaborate with global Garage teams to create and share programming across sites.
• Build strong partnerships with local leadership, tech influencers, and the broader innovation ecosystem.

Develop and deliver digital programming, including talks, workshops, and documented learning experiences.

Required Qualifications:

• Technical degree (BSc) or equivalent experience in the technology industry.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience
• Demonstrable hands-on experience with AI technologies

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree - advantage
• Deep experience in innovation programs, coaching, or developer evangelism.
• Proven experience cultivating and engaging technical communities.
• Passion for hacking and hands-on experimentation.
• Experience producing or delivering hackathons, events and/or employee programming.

Core Attributes for Success:

• Growth mindset grounded in curiosity, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Strong AI acumen, with deep interest in emerging technologies and their impact on how we build and innovate.
• Passionate about enabling hands-on exploration, fostering creative problem solving, and growing innovation communities.
• Exceptional collaborator who elevates others and thrives in fast-moving, cross-functional environments.
• Confident presenter and facilitator who can inspire technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experienced in building partnerships and driving collaborative programs that create measurable impact.

Comfortable working independently and navigating ambiguity.

#Research

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.