Principal Applied Scientist

Microsoft 365 Copilot is a groundbreaking productivity tool that leverages the power of large language models, user data, Microsoft Graph, and the web to drive unparalleled creativity and productivity. At the heart of this innovation is the Office AI Platform team, which plays a crucial role in the aid of development of Copilot experiences in Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and assists teams across Microsoft. We own the infrastructure and base AI platform that enables complex orchestration of Copilot workflows to put powerful AI capabilities at the user’s fingertips.  

We leverage the most advanced, large language models (LLMs) to develop cutting-edge Copilot experiences. We are hands-on, assist our partner teams in their ML efforts and set guidance on best practices through detailed experimentation and research.

We are hiring a Principal Applied Scientist in Office AI to work in an exciting and fast-paced environment, collaborating closely with teams across the company, including Microsoft Research and various product groups. You will work as part of an organization that brings together talent in the areas of large language models, deep learning, information retrieval, software engineering, and responsible AI. We value and encourage diversity in the belief that it leads to both great workplaces and great products. 

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

Responsibilities

• Research and develop an understanding of the state-of-the-art tools, technologies, and methods being used in the research community and product groups. 
• Advance research agenda through one or more projects, yielding new algorithms, prototypes, theories, tools, methods, or collections of data.
• Lead and mentor team of fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Provide technical guidance and support to team members, helping them grow in their careers and achieve their goals.
• Drive the team's strategic vision and align it with the overall company objectives.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define project goals, success criteria, and deliverables.

• Embody our Culture and Values

Qualifications

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
• OR Master's Degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
• OR Doctorate in Statistics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
• OR equivalent experience.
• Proficient in Python and relevant ML libraries (e.g., PyTorch).
• Experience with transformer-based models (e.g., GPT, Llama).
• Experience with coding and design to develop AI models for scaled production services.
• Experience shipping applied research to production. 

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• Masters or Doctorate in Computer Science, Math, Statistics, or related areas with industry experience or publication record in the areas of Large Language Models, Machine Learning, or Natural Language Processing.  
• Problem solving and data analysis skills, with expertise in developing or applying predictive analytics, statistical modelling, data mining, or machine learning algorithms.  
• Leadership skills to influence others, with the ability tounderstand team dynamics, retain, attract, and develop team members.
• Customer obsessed and passionate about product impact.

Applied Sciences IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $158,500 - $276,600 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $202,800 - $304,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until June 2, 2024.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.