Principal Data Scientist

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As a Principal Data Scientist, you will partner with executives, product teams, and engineers to define the future of Outlook data and AI. You will be expected to provide strategic guidance, lead large-scale initiatives, and mentor peers while translating data insights into measurable business and product outcomes.

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.

Required Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or related field AND 5+ years 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 7+ 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 10+ years data science experience (e.g., managing structured and unstructured data, applying statistical techniques and reporting results)
  • OR equivalent experience.
• Advanced knowledge of probability, statistics, experimental design, and product analytics, with a strong track record in designing and leading A/B tests, funnel analysis, and metric frameworks.
• Proficiency in large-scale data management and analysis using tools such as SQL, Python, R, Spark, or similar technologies.
• Good communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and influence senior leadership. Strong business insight to translate data-driven findings into strategic and product outcomes.

• Define and execute a long-term vision for data science, analytics, and evaluation frameworks.
• Shape the data flywheel by creating scalable measurement and feedback loops that continuously improve product performance and user experience.
• Influence product and business strategy by synthesizing data, insights, and emerging research into actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
• Lead large-scale, cross-functional programs for data-driven evaluation, experiment pipelines, and automated measurement systems.
• Build, scale, and promote a culture of data-informed decision making across engineering, product, and business teams.
• Manage, coach and mentor data scientists and analysts, fostering excellence in experimentation, analytics, and business impact.
• Design and implement advanced statistical and machine learning methods to measure product effectiveness and uncover actionable insights.
• Establish and champion product analytics best practices (e.g., metric design, funnel analysis, experiment setup, and decision frameworks).
• Lead the design, execution, and analysis of A/B tests and other controlled experiments.
• Drive acquisition, management, and analysis of large-scale datasets to inform engineering and product innovation.
• Partner with engineers, designer, user researchers, and product managers to align data initiatives with product roadmaps and customer needs.
• Ensure seamless integration of evaluation and analytics into product workflows, from design through deployment.
• Serve as a trusted thought leader to executive stakeholders, communicating complex findings in a clear, actionable way.