Title: Principal Security Solution Engineer
Company: Microsoft
Location: Fargo, North Dakota, United States
Sean Francis, Principal Security Solution Engineer at Microsoft, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Engineers for dedication, achievements and leadership in Solution Engineering and Security Solutions.
Mr. Francis has established a distinguished career in technology, marked by nearly three decades of expertise and leadership. Affiliated with Microsoft since 2006, he has earned numerous promotions over the years. In 2025, Mr. Francis advanced to the role of principal security solution engineer for small, medium and corporate customers for the software development organization. In this capacity, he collaborates closely with the pre-sales team as a technology evangelist, maintaining comprehensive expertise across the security stack and delivering solutions that drive business value while prioritizing safety and effectiveness. His responsibilities include mentoring peers, driving technical enablement and guiding customers through honest, education-based sales approaches.
Recognized for his technical leadership and ability to foster growth among colleagues, Mr. Francis spent over five years as a technical specialist at Microsoft, starting in 2017. During this period, he was instrumental in supporting customers through complex technical challenges and in advancing Microsoft’s security offerings. Mr. Francis’s dedication to continuous learning and adaptability allowed him to remain at the forefront of evolving technologies.
Between 2011 and 2017, Mr. Francis held the position of senior support escalation engineer at Microsoft. He began his tenure as a support escalation engineer, a position he held until 2011.
Before joining Microsoft, Mr. Francis worked as a reports analyst at Sykes Enterprises Inc., now Foundever, a global leader in the customer experience industry, from 1998 to 2006. This early experience provided him with valuable insights into data analysis and reporting that informed his approach to problem-solving throughout his career.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Mr. Francis began his journey in a small farming town in North Dakota, where he graduated from Stanley High School. Embracing his identity as a self-described “nerdy outcast,” Mr. Francis pursued his passion for technology with unwavering commitment. He later attended college, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on information technology from Colorado Technical University in Colorado Springs in 2006. This degree equipped him with both technical acumen and business insight that have been instrumental to his success at Microsoft and beyond. Mr. Francis also pursued professional development through several Microsoft certifications between 2019 and 2021, including security administrator associate, security operations analyst associate, Azure security engineer associate, and OpenHack for security, compliance and identity.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Mr. Francis is civically engaged as a fundraiser and sponsor for local events, demonstrating a commitment to giving back to the communities that have supported him throughout his life.
Throughout his professional journey, Mr. Francis has been honored with two prestigious internal awards at Microsoft for excellence in sales and technical impact. In 2018, he received the Microsoft Gold Club Award following nominations from peers, managers and business leaders, a testament to his outstanding performance in sales and technical delivery as a solution engineer. Later, Mr. Francis achieved the Microsoft Platinum Club Award, the highest honor for a seller at Microsoft.
Mr. Francis attributes his achievements to the steadfast support of his family, particularly during demanding periods early in his career, and the mentorship he received from exceptional leaders at Microsoft. Inspired by these experiences, he now dedicates himself to mentoring others within the organization.
A legacy defined by technical excellence, mentorship and an enduring commitment to both personal growth and community involvement, Mr. Francis envisions continuing his impactful work at Microsoft while deepening his expertise in security technologies. He remains passionate about ongoing learning and professional growth and is considering pursuing additional industry certifications to further enhance his credibility within the field.
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