Principal Technical Program Leader · Microsoft

Building and operating the AI infrastructure that powers the cloud.

Technical program leader with 15+ years operationalizing enterprise-scale cloud and AI infrastructure at Microsoft — from liquid-cooled, high-density GPU platforms to the agentic tooling that keeps fleets healthy. I turn ambitious strategy into systems that run at scale.

Microsoft Azure Data Center Operations AI & GPU Infrastructure University of Washington
Michael Kristalinski
25,000 → 99%healthy fleet state restored · Pilot → Fleetliquid-cooled GB200/GB300 operationalized · $150M+annual savings at Microsoft · 75%reduction in procurement lead time · ~10,000/moticket volume reduced · 30%faster GPU deployment · 15+years in enterprise cloud & AI leadership · $10M+OPEX savings through process optimization ·

About

Turning hyperscale ambition
into operational reality.

I'm a trusted partner to senior leadership and a builder of high-performing technical program organizations in mission-critical environments.

I've spent the last 15 years leading enterprise-scale cloud and AI infrastructure initiatives at some of the most demanding organizations in the world. My work centers on one thing: translating ambitious strategy into systems that actually perform at scale.

At Microsoft, I've operated at the intersection of the CTO organization and Azure's global Data Center fleet — shaping everything from deployment tooling and server procurement to the AI and GPU infrastructure that powers hyperscale operations. I've partnered with engineering leaders, supply chain teams, and senior executives to drive alignment and deliver results that compound over time.

Before Microsoft, I worked at Premera Blue Cross leading core systems transformation, and at T-Mobile improving e-commerce reliability through a microservices migration. I hold a degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Washington Foster School of Business.

Technical Program Management Cloud Infrastructure AI / GPU Operations Data Center Ops Executive Influence Product Strategy Team Leadership Mentorship
25,000 → 99%
Fleet health restored
Remediated ~25,000 unhealthy devices in service back to a 99% healthy fleet state.
30%
Faster GPU deployment
Accelerated GPU capacity availability for critical AI and cloud workloads.
$150M+
Annual operational savings
Cut server procurement lead time 75%, unlocking over $150M in annual savings.
~10,000/mo
Ticket volume reduced
Sustained ~40% month-over-month reduction in technician tickets over two years.

Experience

Where I've done
the work.

A career built at the intersection of cloud infrastructure, technical leadership, and operational excellence.

You are here
Start
Microsoft
Jan 2024 – Present
Redmond, WA
Principal Lead, Technical Program Management
Azure Global Data Center Operations
  • Restored ~25,000 unhealthy devices in service to a 99% healthy fleet state through coordinated tooling improvements, operational service guides, and cross-team execution.
  • Operationalized liquid-cooled, high-density GB200/GB300-class AI platforms from pilot to sustained, fleet-wide operations.
  • Accelerated GPU deployment by 30%, speeding capacity availability for AI and cloud workloads.
  • Reduced technician ticket volume by ~10,000 per month — roughly 40% month-over-month — sustained over two years.
  • Built and deployed an AI documentation-review agent that removes 8–10 hours of manual review per procedure document.
  • Oversee 15 active programs across 30+ engineering teams supporting 30,000+ field technicians across the Americas, Europe, and Asia; lead a team of 6 senior-to-principal program managers.
25,000 → 99% healthy fleet 30% faster GPU deployment ~10,000 fewer tickets/mo
Microsoft
May 2019 – Jan 2024
Redmond, WA
Senior Manager, Technical Program Management
Azure Global Data Center Operations
  • Transformed global data center operations to improve scale and growth of deployable server capacity
  • Achieved $10M+ in annual OPEX savings through process optimization and ticketing-toil reduction
  • Reduced server procurement lead time by 75%, resulting in $150M+ in annual savings
  • Delivered 35%+ improvement in data center time-to-value across the entire Azure fleet
  • Led executive-level program reviews and goal setting for Microsoft EVP leadership
$150M+ annual savings $10M+ OPEX reduction 35%+ time-to-value
Microsoft
May 2018 – May 2019
Redmond, WA
Senior Technical Program Manager
Azure Supply Chain
  • Managed and led deployment of $600M in critical hardware assets for Azure and Cosmos
  • Led Modular Data Center (MDC) and ITPAC deployments to enable growth for Bing and Cosmos customers
  • Developed a 2-year feature backlog to optimize MDC product onboarding
  • Built strategic partnerships between Supply Chain Operations and Data Center Operations leadership globally
$600M hardware delivery
Premera Blue Cross
May 2016 – May 2018
Mountlake Terrace, WA
Principal IT Systems Analyst
Core Systems & Platforms · Office of the CTO
  • Led PMs and Engineers to implement strategic products revolutionizing the Audit and Internal Affairs process
  • Drove RFP processes for multimillion-dollar software acquisitions, influencing vendor selection with business leadership
  • Designed and implemented Appian-based audit workflows enabling electronic logging within 24 hours
T-Mobile
Mar 2015 – May 2016
Bellevue, WA
Systems Analyst
Telesales Order Management / Web Store
  • Partnered with Engineering leads to transition Telesales to a Microservices model, improving load speeds and purchase flow reliability
  • Delivered iPhone launch events and catalog optimizations driving Post-Paid subscriber growth

Let's connect.

Open to conversations about leading AI infrastructure operations at scale, mentoring program managers breaking into the field, or connecting with others building in this space.

Want to connect?

Reach out about AI infrastructure operations leadership, mentorship, or anything else on your mind.

makristal@outlook.com
Send me an email →