About Joey
I build the bridge between complex engineering and human experience. With over a decade of expertise at Microsoft, I thrive at the intersection of Agentic AI, cloud infrastructure, and human psychology. From developing PowerBI and Power Automate as an engineer to shaping the future of AI Foundry, Azure Dev Compute, and Developer Tools as a researcher, I specialize in making technical systems intuitive, relatable, and scalable. Beyond uncovering insights, I breed solutions that maximize Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) to ensure easy adoption, high-velocity iteration, and true product stickiness.
Microsoft Foundry and Azure Cloud Service UX Research
Microsoft Core AI Design and Research (2024 - Present)
I specialize in leading early-stage customer profile research and framing complex problems within the rapidly evolving AI landscape. By connecting with diverse customer cohorts across various feature sets, I drive the exploration of the AI agent space—including SRE and DevOps agent viability and MCP server building agents—to help product teams define winning MVP strategies. My research methodology embraces a "fail fast, iterate fast" philosophy, delivering the human-behavioral insights necessary to orchestrate multi-agent support on Azure App Service and optimize multi-region service UX. From leading "show-and-tell" sessions for agentic builders to spearheading the integration of Azure Functions with AI Foundry, I ensure technical innovation is grounded in deep customer empathy and rigorous business triangulation.
AI Assisted Development Research & Customer-Driven Engineering Evangelism
Microsoft Developer Division 2021 - 2023
At Microsoft, I’ve led end-to-end research studies that bring clarity to complex developer challenges and shape the future of AI-powered tools. My recent work includes MCP Server adoption studies, where I explored how developers orchestrate multi-agent AI systems, and Azure Functions scenario-based networking research, where I validated secure, scalable defaults grounded in real-world workflows. These projects helped teams immerse themselves in developer experiences, uncover critical insights, and iterate toward solutions that balance usability with business needs.
In addition, in our hybrid UX research lab, I prioritize neutral, unbiased cognitive walkthroughs, often observing from behind a one-way mirror to capture authentic behaviors. This approach ensures product decisions are rooted in both stakeholder priorities and the subtle friction points that truly matter to developers. The outcome has been more intuitive engineering practices and products that build lasting trust and loyalty among users.
Eyetracking & AR Research Projects
Microsoft | Master's @ University of Washington
My passion for visual research and design has driven me to spearhead innovative initiatives that not only explore the intricacies of developers' code scanning behaviors using eye-tracking technology but also leverage augmented reality (AR) for evaluating user navigation experiences in complex 3D environments like Minecraft. These endeavors weren't merely academic exercises; they provided actionable insights that directly impact product development and user engagement strategies.
By employing eye-tracking technology within product teams, I unearthed invaluable insights into professional developers' cognitive processes, highlighting the areas of their utmost focus during programming tasks.
Furthermore, my utilization of AR technologies during my master's program at UW expanded our understanding of immersive navigation experiences. This fusion of cutting-edge technology with insightful research methodologies not only enriched coding practices and virtual world exploration but also equipped me with the skills to drive tangible improvements in product design, user experiences, and technology integration strategies within organizations. These insights translate into more user-friendly interfaces, streamlined workflows, and innovative approaches that directly contribute to enhancing product performance, user satisfaction, and organizational success.
ICHS and FujiFilm SonoSite Web service improvements
Master's @ University of Washington
My passion for human well-being is deeply rooted in the rich tapestry of my family's medical background, which has fostered a profound appreciation for the intricacies of health and a genuine concern for the welfare of individuals.
Growing up amidst discussions of medical breakthroughs, patient care, and the impact of health on people's lives, I developed a keen awareness of the importance of holistic well-being.
During my time at UW I've worked with medical teams coming from International Clinic Health Service (ICHS) and FujiFilm SonoSite to improve their website / web service design. The presentations for these projects are available at ICHS & FujiFilm SonoSite respectively.
"If I had an hour to solve a problem I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions."
Albert Einstein
