Question Answering (erstwhile, QnA Maker) is a cloud-based Natural Language Processing (NLP) service that allows one to easily create a natural conversational layer over your data. It can be used to find the most appropriate answer for any given natural language input, from your custom knowledge base (KB) of information. Commonly used for powering knowledge driven responses in a Chat Bot, and question answering over a custom corpus of data.

Generally Available since 2018, Question Answering is one of the fastest growing cognitive services. With recent improvements to the product, Question Answering is now on the cutting edge of deep learning technology. Our vision is to provide both customers with an easy-to-use SOTA QnA layer over their Bot and Search applications.

As a product manager in the hot area of Conversational AI, you will get an opportunity to guide this young service to its full potential as Question Answering service for 1st and 3rd party applications and services.

Responsibilities

• Understand the conversational AI domain and envision the next set of innovations and scenarios in this space.
  • Work closely with the top customer to understand their usage, scenarios, pain points and bring it back to the product.
  • Actively seek opportunities to partner with ISVs and service provides, who build solutions on top of Microsoft cognitive services.
  • Integrate with 1st party platform offerings like Bot framework, Power Virtual Agents, Azure search to have an E2E story for customer solutions.
  • Represent and evangelize in the right forums and conferences, both internal and external.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science (or related field) or equivalent work experience
  • 8+ years of work experience designing, building and/or implementing software products.
  • Working knowledge of Natural Language concepts, Machine Learning and awareness of the progress being made in this field.
  • Passion for understanding things deeply, whether it’s customer requirements or product technologies.
  • Passion for writing and authoring thoughtful guidance, established blog or examples are a plus.
  • Love for engaging customers, listening, problem solving.
  • Strong communications skills, critical thinking and troubleshooting abilities.
  • Extra credit if you've been in a customer-facing role and/or have background in the conversational AI space.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. 

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.