| Microsoft Careers

Microsoft

Actively hiring Verified listing
US Posted 12 days ago $142,800–$274,800 / year
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At a glance

AI generated

TL;DR

As a Principal Research Engineer at Microsoft, you will lead transformative AI initiatives that shape the future of Microsoft’s products and services by setting technical direction for foundational models, multi-agent systems, and next-generation Copilot experiences. You will architect scalable and reliable AI systems, integrate large language models and multimodal architectures into Microsoft's ecosystem, and establish standards for MLOps and Responsible AI. Your day-to-day involves driving original research, translating insights into production-quality code, and collaborating across teams to deliver impactful solutions. Preferred qualifications include a PhD in AI/ML with top-venue publications, extensive experience in applied AI/ML research and product engineering, and proficiency in Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow, and Microsoft’s LLMOps stack. This role is at the forefront of AI innovation, addressing complex business needs and empowering millions of users globally.

Skills

Python PyTorch TensorFlow Azure AI Foundry Azure Machine Learning Semantic Kernel Azure OpenAI Service Azure AI Search LLMOps MLOps Responsible AI CI/CD Distributed training GPU optimization Multimodal models Multi-agent systems LLMs

What you'll do

  • Define and execute technical strategy for foundational models, multi-agent systems, and next-generation Copilot experiences.
  • Lead cross-team efforts to deliver scalable, reliable, and responsible AI systems.
  • Convert research insights into production-quality code optimized for scale and latency.
  • Establish standards for MLOps, governance, and Responsible AI in compliance with industry standards.
  • Mentor engineers and foster a culture of technical excellence and innovation.

What we're looking for

  • PhD in AI/ML or related field with top-venue publications and/or patents.
  • Experience architecting and deploying large-scale LLMs/multimodal models and multi-agent systems.
  • Familiarity with Responsible AI frameworks, including bias-mitigation techniques.
  • Proven track record of shaping product strategy and driving organizational change.
  • Expertise in Microsoft’s LLMOps stack for AI development and deployment.
  • Extensive experience leading large-scale AI initiatives and cross-organizational projects.
  • Strong background in software engineering, Python, deep-learning frameworks, and MLOps.

Market check

Salary context

This $142,800–$274,800 range sits above 75% of similar postings on FindRole.

Peer median band

$139,900–$274,800

Median floor and ceiling across peers.

Typical midpoint (25–75%)

$177,250–$208,800

Middle half of comparable postings.

Based on 240 comparable postings.

* 240 is the maximum number of comparable postings sampled.

Employer

About Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is a global technology leader producing software, hardware, and cloud services including Windows, Office 365, Azure cloud platform, Xbox gaming, and Surface devices. Industry: Software & Cloud Computing

Microsoft currently has 534 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $119,800–$234,700 across 488 roles with salary data.

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