Qualifications
Team Leadership – Program Oversight – Strategic Development – Team Building – Human Centered Design – UX Optimization Strategies – Product Improvement – Quality Control – Scalability – Attention to Detail – Communication – Time Management – Problem Solving – Implementations
- Exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving abilities that became a vital asset while resolving challenges in terms of quality, product delivery, and customer requirements during multiple major projects
- Motivating leader with an expansive engineering background, working on major projects for a global corporation, such as multiple Xbox platforms, MS Office, Windows, and Mixed Reality (AR/VR/AI/ML)
- Strong interpersonal communication and leadership abilities that were honed during service in the United States Air Force—consistently use these abilities to build, lead, and further develop a range of dynamic teams
Career Path
Microsoft
Senior Director, System Reliability, Software Component, and Product Solutions ___ 2020 – Present
- Stood up a new centralized organization to ensure product quality in Mixed Reality programs
- Defined the structure needed to support the requirements of a very important GOV customer
- Strong integration with customer in managing expectations and reinforcing partnerships
- Own multiple initiatives across organization toward increased efficiency, quality, and cost savings
- Overall System Reliability owner leading organization toward military grade product reliability
Principal Engineering Manager 2018 – 2020
- Ensured that all engineers were working toward strategic development focusing on experiences for customers
- Human Centered Design in partnership with User Research to place a central focus on user outcomes
- Took on additional responsibilities, such as defining the requirements for the creation of contractual documents
- Strengthened the commitment of engineers in bolstering customer satisfaction through tools development
Principal Software Development Lead 2012 – 2018
- Development lead on HoloLens from the program’s initial launch to ensure a successful project
- Orchestrated team efforts during the management of a codebase for the Holographic Processing Unit (HPU)
- Interacted cross-functionally with the Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence teams on platform construction
- Created the most effective platform for executing algorithms for creating world-locked mixed reality holograms
- Structured teams to delineate authority in a manner that enabled all team members to provide useful insight
- Owned the implementation of ISP block, PCIe/device emulation, and the management of various compilers
Principal Group Manager 2009 – 2012
- Managed Interactive Entertainment Business User Experience components, including Xbox Dashboard
- Oversaw other components, such as Xbox Guide, Programming, Interaction Experiences and UI Framework
Principal Quality Manager 2000 – 2009
- Worked extensively as a quality owner for Zune.net and Zune Video Marketplace for the Xbox platform
- Started with Microsoft in 2000, earning a promotion to Software Design Engineer / Quality Lead in 2003
- Earned a second promotion to Quality Manager in 2007 and a third promotion to PQM in January 2009
- Took on numerous responsibilities, such as owning ESPN, Netflix, Facebook, and Twitter application titles
- Contributed substantially to the launch of the innovative new Kinect system on the Xbox 360 platform
Education
Rice University
Electrical & Electronics Engineering
University of Washington
Computer Science
Service
U.S. Air Force (1990 – 1996)
Jet Engine Mechanic (MOS 2A6X1)
Contact
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/benlbourland