Principal Scientist

Microsoft is a company where passionate innovators come to collaborate, envision what can be and take their careers further. This is a world of more possibilities, more innovation, more openness, and the sky is the limit thinking in a cloud-enabled world. 
 
Microsoft's Azure Data engineering team is leading the transformation of analytics in the world of data with products like databases, data integration, big data analytics, messaging & real-time analytics, and business intelligence. The products our portfolio include Microsoft Fabric, Azure SQL DB, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure PostgreSQL, Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Service Bus, Azure Event Grid, and Power BI. Our mission is to build the data platform for the age of AI, powering a new class of data-first applications and driving a data culture. 

Within Azure Data, the big data analytics team provides a range of products that enable data engineers and data scientists to extract intelligence from all data – structured, semi-structured, and unstructured. We build the Data Engineering, Data Science, and Data Integration pillars of Microsoft Fabric.​ 

​​The Team   

We are the Gray Systems Lab (GSL), the applied research group for Microsoft Azure Data. We tackle research problems in the areas of databases, big data, cloud, systems-for-ML, and ML-for-systems. Our mission is to advance the Microsoft Azure Data organization, and we do so in three ways: (i) innovating within Microsoft products and services (ii) publishing in top-tier conferences and journals, and (iii) actively contributing to open-source projects. The team spans multiple geographical locations (Redmond WA, Sunnyvale CA, Madison WI, Barcelona, Spain) with a mix of researchers, engineers, and data scientists. With team members originating from 10 countries and 4 continents, each of us brings something authentically unique to the team. In this diverse and inclusive environment, creativity, open dialogue, and a healthy work-life balance are powering GSL innovation and helping each of us grow.

   
   Your Role   
 
​​As a Principal Scientist, you have an opportunity to work on the latest technology of LLMs and Data Science and apply them to some of the largest problems in industry, including practical applications of ML on workload insight and optimization, apply innovative algorithms for solving placement and load balancing problems at scale. In GSL we seek collaborative and inclusive manager who can think big, working on the bleeding edge envisioning a new future, and work with our team of researchers and engineers to make it happen. Want to change the world with data and large-scale distributed systems? Do you want to solve challenges that you didn't even know existed until you get to a large size? Come join us on the Azure data team    ​​ 

• Propose, Design, build, and operationalize novel data systems.  
• Navigate and improve complex software systems, participate in design decisions, and implement new features.  
• Work closely with internal product teams to understand and address their requirements.  
• Collaborate with GSL members and PMs and engineers from product groups.  
• Contribute to open-source systems.  
• Participate in academic activities through publications, presentations, and community services.  ​
• Embody our culture and values 

Required/Minimum Qualifications  
 

• Doctorate in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND strong data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)  OR Master's Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND strong years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)  OR Bachelor's Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND extensive years data-science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)  OR equivalent experience. 
• People-management experience (or equivalent).
• 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.

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. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form (Accessibility | Microsoft Careers). 

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

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This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. 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 with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.