No surprise: Microsoft seeks Windows Update boss with 'ability to reduce chaos, stress'

[Batu69]

Reduce it for Redmond's engineers, that is – not you

Microsoft wants to hire a particularly thick-skinned person to help run its Windows Updates team.

The Windows Servicing and Delivery team Senior Program Manager will be tasked with overseeing the release of features, fixes and security patches Microsoft delivers for Windows.

 

That means the person who fills this role will be in charge of getting Redmond's infamous "Patch Tuesday" bundles out to folks, and in the likely event that one or more of those packages causes problems for people, will help put out fires as well.

 

The newly recruited boss will help plan and prioritize the monthly updates for Windows and Windows Server, deciding which issues are most in need of patching and oversee the creation of those patches within Microsoft.

 

Not surprisingly, the job description asks candidates have the "ability to reduce chaos, increase simplification and reduce stress for the team."

"The team is focused on enabling and unblocking key consumer and business scenarios by keeping customers up-to-date with the latest features and bug fixes, and patching security vulnerabilities for in market OS versions," Microsoft says.

 

"We are looking for an energetic, highly technical candidate with a strong customer focus for the role of senior program manager."

Here are some examples of the highly technical cockups you'll be expected to clean up:

• Completely borked Group Policy
• Thoroughly knackered print job support
• Broken Windows Server 2012 WSUS updates
• Inconvenient 'convenience' patches for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008
• Screwed-up Outlook updates
• Dodgy Exchange 2010 fixes
• Windows 10 removing .NET frameworks essential to applications
• Windows 10 turning computers into paperweights

This comes as Microsoft prepares to roll out all-or-nothing monthly batches of fixes for Windows 7 and 8.1 users.

 

Here's what the senior manager will be expected to do day to day:

• Investigate and understand customer scenarios and expectations in depth, using telemetry/data, anecdotal evidence, personal experience and market perceptions.
• Manage and coordinate with a team of engineers to deliver features, fixes, and security updates on a monthly basis.
• Understand the broader ecosystem and customer scenarios and using that understanding to set priorities for the team.

And so on and so forth.

The job will require working both with Microsoft's own engineering team to prioritize and create the updates, and with external partners to deal with the patches once they are out the door and possibly breaking customer PCs and servers.

 

Other requirements include a Bachelors degree or higher in computer science, seven years of industry experience, knowledge of C++ and TFS/VSO, and a knack for warding off infuriated, pitchfork-wielding mobs of administrators (not listed, but we assume it's included).

 

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[davmil]

I hope they find someone and that person can stand up to marketing and the big boss too.  I've had this job at lesser companies and, trust me, the engineers aren't the problem.  Their guys are good enough I'll bet.  Buying them the time to finish their jobs properly and put code through more QA is the bosses responsibility.