Senior Applied Scientist

Job description

The Azure Language Artificial Intelligence (AI) team is expanding its mission to accelerate the development of agentic AI systems.

This role focuses on advancing scientific methods and scalable infrastructure for training agentic models to achieve frontier-level performance.

This includes contributions to large language models (LLMs), small language models (SLMs), and agentic models, along with advanced data synthesis leveraging both proprietary and open-source frameworks all aimed at building reliable, enterprise-grade agentic workflows.

We are seeking a curious, adaptable problem-solver who thrives on continuous learning, embraces changing priorities, and is motivated by creating meaningful impact.

Candidates must be self-driven, able to write efficient code, document findings, and demonstrate a track record in these fields.

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**

+ Translates business goals into actionable plans by applying cutting-edge research
+ Design and implement scalable pipelines for training, evaluation, and inference
+ Demonstrated ability to collaborate within interdisciplinary teams and communicate complex research concepts effectively;
+ Contribute to innovations that power flagship Microsoft products
+ Document findings and contribute to publications and open-source efforts

**Qualifications**

**Required Qualifications:**

+ Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years related experience (e.g., statistics predictive analytics, research) OR Master's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research) OR Doctorate in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 1+ year(s) related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
+ OR equivalent experience.

+ 2+ years of experience in developing GenAI-powered products across multiple stages of the product lifecycle - from initial concept through to final deployment

+ 2+ years of experience in data curation and synthesis for model optimization

+ 2+ years of hands-on coding experience in Python and frameworks like PyTorch.

+ Experience with both proprietary and open-source frameworks

**Other Requirements:**

Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role.

These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:

+ Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

**Preferred Qualifications:**

+ Doctorate in Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 2+ year(s) related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research) OR Master's Degree Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research)
+ Extensive experience with fine-tuning LLMs, SLMs, and agentic models
+ Experience working with data curation and synthesis
+ Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, and experience with machine learning frameworks like PyTorch
+ Proven track record of impactful research with published work or real-world product deployments
+ Startup-style mindset: agile, solution-oriented, and self-driven
+ Ability to collaborate across interdisciplinary teams and communicate complex ideas clearly

Applied Sciences IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 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 $158,400 - $258,000 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 posts positions for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

#CoreAI

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer.

Consistent with applicable law, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .

Required Skill Profession

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