In between classes on machine learning and software engineering, Jace Watson isn't heading back to his dorm or finding a quiet place to study somewhere on Carnegie Mellon University's campus.

That's because Watson isn't even in Pittsburgh. He's in Seattle, working at his full-time job as a software engineer at Microsoft and taking classes through the Preceptorship for AI-accelerated Software Engineering (PRAISE) program, which CMU and Microsoft launched to train early career software engineers for the rapidly changing computer science 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 said. "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 offers early career Microsoft employees a chance to take online courses in CMU's Kenneth C. Griffin School of Computer Science while receiving hands-on mentorship at the company. At Microsoft, selected early career engineers, or preceptees, work with senior engineering preceptors to build AI-accelerated software engineering skills through structured guidance, mentorship and application to their day-to-day Microsoft work. Participants can also enroll in SCS classes focused on software engineering and artificial intelligence.

"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," said 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 idea for the program came about following CMU alumnus Mark Russinovich's (ENG 1989, 1994) visit to SCS in October 2025. The chief technology officer, deputy chief information security officer and technical fellow for Microsoft Azure spoke about how AI tools help senior engineers, but noted that the same level of benefit isn't 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 said. "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 discussion, SCS and Microsoft began considering how education could help junior engineers overcome the challenges of using AI in the workplace.

"It used to be that early career software engineers would do a lot of tasks that would build up their expertise," said Michael Hilton, a teaching professor 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 semester, Microsoft employees enrolled in the CMU PRAISE certificate program are taking Machine Learning in Production and Preceptorship in AI-Augmented Software Engineering I. These classes train students on how to incorporate machine learning into the software they write and to use AI tools while developing that software.

"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 wrote in their announcement of the partnership. "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 semester, students will take DevOps: Engineering for Secure Development and Deployment and the second half of the Preceptorship in AI-Augmented Software Engineering course sequence. These courses can be applied to a master's degree in software engineering, allowing students to further their learning at SCS. CMU hopes to grow the program and add more students to the certificate program, perhaps one day opening the door to other industry partners.

"I am tremendously excited about the impact this program will have on junior engineers at Microsoft," said Jonathan Aldrich, an S3D professor 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." 

To learn more about the program, visit Microsoft's Command Line.