The Principal Researcher role at Microsoft focuses on advancing efficiency across the AI stack, including models, ML frameworks, cloud infrastructure, and hardware. The applied research team aims to drive product innovation through collaboration with various teams and emphasizes real-world impact. This position involves exploring algorithmic, systems, and hardware/software co-design techniques to optimize AI serving systems. The role requires end-to-end ownership of high-impact problems, from prototyping to deployment.

• Doctorate in relevant field AND 6+ years related research experience OR Master's Degree in relevant field AND 7+ years related research experience OR Bachelor's Degree in relevant field AND 9+ years related research experience OR equivalent experience.
• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements.

• Formulate, develop, and evaluate new algorithmic and system-level approaches for end-to-end AI serving.
• Design and experimentally evaluate endpoint configuration and execution policies.
• Perform hardware- and kernel-aware optimization by collaborating closely with various teams.
• Build and benchmark experimental prototypes and large-scale measurements to validate research ideas.
• Publish research results, file patents, and contribute to open-source systems and serving frameworks.

• Employees at Microsoft are often offered comprehensive, “world-class” benefits—including health and mental-wellness programs, competitive pay with bonuses and stock awards, and retirement/savings options. Time-off and flexibility are common, with generous vacation and holidays, parental and caregiver leave, and flexible work schedules, alongside learning support, employee resource groups, product discounts, and matching-gifts/volunteering programs. Specific benefits can vary by region.