Principal Applied Scientist
Microsoft
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.
Starting January 26, 2026, Microsoft AI (MAI) employees who live within a 50-mile commute of a designated Microsoft office in the U.S. or 25-mile commute of a non-U.S., country-specific location are expected to work from the office at least four days per week. This expectation is subject to local law and may vary by jurisdiction.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development and implementation of advanced statistical models and algorithms to analyse complex data sets.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define key metrics and KPIs that align with our product goals.
- Provide strategic insights and recommendations based on data analysis to influence product direction and business strategies.
- Uphold data engineering and data science best practices new methodologies, technologies, industry trends and open sources.
- Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 6+ 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 4+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research).
- OR Doctorate in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research).
- OR equivalent experience.
- 4+ years of extensive experience in statistical analysis, machine learning, and data mining.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically and analytically.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, or SQL.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts to the stakeholders and manage expectations with them.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Experience in defining metrics to measure the success of a large-scale product/service and define OKR metrics for large orgs is a plus.
- Experience in working with Cloud architecture such as Azure is a plus.
- Ability to work cross-group and across disciplines effectively.
- Excellent skills in designing, debugging and problem solving.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's Degree in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 9+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research).
- OR Doctorate in Statistics, Econometrics, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years related experience (e.g., statistics, predictive analytics, research).
- OR equivalent experience.
- 5+ years experience creating publications (e.g., patents, libraries, peer-reviewed academic papers).
- 2+ years experience presenting at conferences or other events in the outside research/industry community as an invited speaker.
- 5+ years experience conducting research as part of a research program (in academic or industry settings).
- 3+ years experience developing and deploying live production systems, as part of a product team.
- 3+ years experience developing and deploying products or systems at multiple points in the product cycle from ideation to shipping.
#MicrosoftAI
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.