This study investigated how locally focused microwave (MW) energy can be used to manipulate the local burn rate and product composition in an SHS reaction. Ball milled Al/Zr/C composites were prepared by ink-printing and locally heated by a monopole MW antenna remotely. Color pyrometry and infrared thermometry were used to analyze the local burn rate and temperature profile of the combustion. The local induced heating by the microwave resulted in an acceleration of the local burn rate (> 2.5 X) from which an effective-activation energy of ∼ 30 kJ/mol was extracted. The burn rate under these various conditions were found to be independent of the measured heat flux to the pre-heating zone. This coupled wit the low value of the activation energy implies amass transfer control. Product analysis showed that the mole fraction of ZrC in the product increases with local burn rate. This study demonstrated localized MW energy offers the potential to dynamically modulate burn rate and modify spatial distribution of product formation in SHS reaction.