Microsoft and CMU Team Up to Train Early Career Software Engineers

In in between classes on artificial intelligence and software application engineering, Jace Watson isn’t heading back to his dormitory or discovering a peaceful location to study someplace on Carnegie Mellon University’s school.

That’s due to the fact that Watson isn’t even in Pittsburgh. He’s in Seattle, operating at his full-time task as a software application engineer at Microsoft and taking classes through the Preceptorship for AI-accelerated Software Engineering (PRAISE) programwhich CMU and Microsoft released to train early profession software application engineers for the quickly altering computer technology landscape.

“When I started undergraduate, it was the beginning of AI being something that everybody had access to on their own computers. As I got closer to graduation, it started becoming clear how big AI tools would be in the workforce, but using AI wasn’t a huge part of my education,” Watson stated. “When I joined Microsoft, these tools were part of my day-to-day, and I wanted to make sure I knew how to fully take advantage of them, which is why I sought out the additional education opportunity through CMU and Microsoft.”

The CMU/Microsoft PRAISE program provides early profession Microsoft workers a possibility to take online courses in CMU’s Kenneth C. Griffin School of Computer Science while getting hands-on mentorship at the business. At Microsoft, picked early profession engineers, or preceptees, deal with senior engineering preceptors to develop AI-accelerated software application engineering abilities through structured assistance, mentorship and application to their everyday Microsoft work. Individuals can likewise enlist in SCS classes concentrated on software application engineering and expert system.

“This partnership with Microsoft is about providing the Griffin School of Computer Science’s high-quality computer science learning to people who aren’t in the traditional education system but are seeking guidance to navigate a rapidly changing landscape,” stated SCS Dean Martial Hebert. “SCS and Microsoft recognize that we all have a part to play in supporting and readying the nation’s workforce, and the CMU/Microsoft PRAISE program is an innovative step in that direction.”

The concept for the program happened following CMU alumnus Mark Russinovich’s(ENG 1989, 1994)check out to SCS in October 2025. The primary innovation officer, deputy chief details gatekeeper and technical fellow for Microsoft Azure discussed how AI tools assist senior engineers, however kept in mind that the very same level of advantage isn’t readily available for junior engineers.

“AI changes the work, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for junior engineers or for human judgment and accountability,” Russinovich stated. “By combining Microsoft’s engineering experience with CMU’s academic expertise, PRAISE offers a model we’re proud to lead and hope others in industry and academia will adopt.”

From that conversation, SCS and Microsoft started thinking about how education might assist junior engineers conquer the obstacles of utilizing AI in the office.

“It used to be that early career software engineers would do a lot of tasks that would build up their expertise,” stated Michael Hiltona mentor teacher in CMU’s Software and Societal Systems Department (S3D). “Combining forces between academics and practitioners allows us to bring our expertise together and create solutions that draw on computer science research while standing up to the daily realities of software development.”

This term, Microsoft workers registered in the CMU PRAISE certificate program are taking Machine Learning in Production and Preceptorship in AI-Augmented Software Engineering I. These classes train trainees on how to integrate artificial intelligence into the software application they compose and to utilize AI tools while establishing that software application.

“That judgment for when to use AI should be viewed as ongoing education, which is why we’re partnering with Carnegie Mellon University on curriculum as part of the PRAISE program,” Microsoft composed in their statement of the collaboration. “The intent is to set students up for success in the workplace and accelerate preceptees with formal curricula to complement the guidance from the preceptor on how to build and deliver with confidence.”

In the spring term, trainees will take DevOps: Engineering for Secure Development and Deployment and the 2nd half of the Preceptorship in AI-Augmented Software Engineering course series. These courses can be used to a master’s degree in software application engineering, enabling trainees to advance their knowing at SCS. CMU wishes to grow the program and include more trainees to the certificate program, maybe one day unlocking to other market partners.

“I am tremendously excited about the impact this program will have on junior engineers at Microsoft,” stated Jonathan Aldrichan S3D teacher who directs the PRAISE certificate program. “With so many companies worldwide faced with upheaval due to AI in software development, I believe this program will become a template for rapidly leveling up new developers across the industry.”

For more information about the program, go to Microsoft’s Command Line